Champagne Grand Cru Lallier Millésime

This Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut (2005) Champagne is Champagne Lallier’s top release. Not declared in every year, a Lallier Vintage (Millesimé) is only declared in the very best years in Champagne. Formed of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, this Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut (2005) is unusual in that rarely are Champagnes from Grand Cru sites Pinot Noir dominated. In the Lallier winery, the fine quality of the sites from which the grapes for this Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut are selected means that only a low level of dosage (additional sugar added prior to bottling) is required to aid secondary fermentation – something which ought to see the specific “terrior” (environmental influence) of the Grand Cru growing sites used to supply the grapes for this wine to shine through clearly. The bottles are matured on their “lees” (deposits that result from the secondary fermentation that produces the bubbles) for four to six years in Lallier’s underground cellars before “disgorgement” (the removal of the lees). There is then a five month resting period prior to release.


A handsome bottle of wine, this Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut (2005) Champagne is bottled in a traditional Champagne-shaped bottle with a simple and elegant gold label. Whilst Champagne from Krug (significantly more expensive) is bottled in a squatter, more dumpy bottle, I could not help but notice the similarity in design between this Champagne Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut (2005)’s label and the label that adorns Champagne Krug’s “Grande Cuvee” offering. On opening, Champagne Lallier recommend waiting 30mins prior to tasting to allow the wine to “open and develop it’s aromas”.


In the glass this Champagne Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut (2005) is a pale lemon to gold colour. An alcoholic content of 12.5% (average for Champagne) and a pale colour means that it is difficult to pick out the legs of the wine when swirled in the glass. The “mousse” (bubbles!) are small and persistent even after the enforced 30 minutes of waiting – cheaper sparkling wines sourced from outside of Champagne and made with the injection method of generating CO2 bubbles (literally injecting CO2 into the wine through the cork after the bottle is sealed) would likely be nearly flat at this point.


On the nose, this Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut (2005) Champagne is aromatic and subtle. Slightly fresh citrus greets your senses with some brioche and toasted almond following on behind. A hint of white flower is also present in a bouquet which is lighter and more fragrant than some Champagne (certainly more so than Chardonnay dominated blends).


Once in the mouth, this Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut (2005) Champagne again leads in a manner that is fresh and a little zingy with a good hit of acidity, before settling and smoothing into a long mid-palate of shortcake and a little restrained brioche. The fine mousse adds a little creaminess to the texture and fades into a medium to long finish that becomes drier as the mousse fades. Probably more of a Champagne to accompany food than for drinking alone, this Lallier Grand Cru Vintage Brut (2005) Champagne would easily accompany scallops, delicately textured fish and chicken.