PL Award 1: GOLD - SWA 2016  PL Award 2: SILVER - IWC 2011 PL Award 3:GOLD - DWWA 2010  PL Award 4: SILVER - IWC 2010 Country: France  Region: Champagne Varietal: Sparkling (Champagne style)Vintage: NV  Category: Champagne  Colour: WhiteProducer: Devaux "Founded in 1846 by the brothers Jules and Auguste Devaux, it was subsequently taken over by Madame Augusta Devaux, one of Champagne’s great characters, who ran the company with great energy and skill. The leap forward in quality that she had initiated led to the company being renamed Maison Veuve A. Devaux on her death.Today, Devaux is situated in the magnificent setting of the Manor at Domaine de Villeneuve, now restored to its former glory and splendour. Devaux is a Pinot Noir specialist and their vineyards in the heart of the Côte des Bar, in the south of the Champagne region, produce some of the best Pinot Noir in the whole appellation.The Devaux Champagnes are full and expressive yet elegant and refreshing. Only the initial, lightly-pressed juice (the cuvée) is used. The ‘Classiques’ Champagnes are aged on their lees for at least three years (twice the minimum dictated by Champagne law) and the flagship ‘Collection D’ range for at least five years, which contributes to their complexity of flavour and integrated, fine mousse. The ‘Cuvée D’ comprises a minimum of 35% reserve wines and is aged in large oak casks, while the ‘D Rosé’ has finesse and hints of red berries. The ‘D Millésime’ 2006 spent over seven years extended ageing on its lees and displays exceptional complexity, structure and balance. The ‘D de Devaux’ Vintage 2008 spent over six years extended ageing on its lees resulting in a wine of complexity, finesse, structure and balance. The Sténopé is a collaboration between Michel Parisot from Devaux and Michel Chapoutier, the renowned winemaker from the Rhône Valley. Sharing the same philosophy about vineyards and respect for the land, they decided to create an exceptional Champagne that take a snapshot of a particular vintage as a faithful representation of it, hence the name which means ‘pinhole camera’ in French. Sténopé will be made every year from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir carefully selected by Michel Parisot among his preferred plots. It is made in very limited quantities and is already considered as a collector’s wine."Product Features: Vegan;Vegetarian Winemaker: Michel Parisot Vineyards:  The "D Collection" wines are Devaux's very best. The grapes come from highly select, sustainably farmed parcels across 35 hectares. The majority of the vineyards are situated in the Aube on Kimmeridgian limestone-clay soils. This continental location, on the slopes of the Côte des Bars, is important; it gives the Pinot Noir richness on the nose and a long finish, while retaining finesse. The Chardonnay in the blend is grown on the fine chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs, Vitry and Montgueux ("the Meursault of Champagne") to give liveliness and elegance. The low yielding vines, with an average age of 30 years, give good concentration and weight; combined with the high quality of the grapes, this means that the final dosage is very low making a dry but round style of champagne. Vinification: 90% of the base wines are fermented in stainless steel, with 10% fermented in 300 litre barrels. This is followed by partial malolactic fermentation. The blend comprises 40% reserve wines (50% for the magnum), a quarter of which are from two perpetual soleras: a Chardonnay solera and a Cuvée D solera that have been going since 1995 and 2002 respectively. The remaining reserve wines are aged in large oak casks. Following bottling, the liqueur de tirage is added and the wine undergoes a slow second fermentation in bottle and extended ageing on its lees for a minimum of five years (the legal minimum is 15 months). This results in a wine with a finer, more persistent mousse and greater potential for complexity. After disgorgement, the wine receives a low dosage of 2g/l. Tasting Notes: Lovely pale gold in colour, with a fine, persistent mousse indicative of the long period of bottle ageing. The nose is nicely developed but still fresh, with notes of hazelnuts and spice. On the palate the low dosage allows the quality of the Pinot Noir fruit to shine through, with hints of ripe pear and more hazelnuts. The finish is long, fresh and dry. Food Suggestion: Great with lobster or an extravagant seafood platter. Closure: Natural Cork  ABV:  12%