Country: France Region: Champagne Varietal: Pinot Noir / Pinot Meunier / ChardonnayVintage: 2002 Colour: White Style: SparklingProducer: LansonDescription: This Champagne is composed of 53% Pinot Noir and 47% Chardonnay, both entirely from Grand Cru sites. Because Lanson never allows the wines to go through malo, this is a spectacularly fresh 13 year old that has lots of flowery Chardonnay character, as the savory Pinot Noir side has yet to fully develop. This will be a spectacular bottle for the future if you can resist its ample charms right now. Ageing Potential: 20+ YearsTasting Note:This is a wine that usually ages very nicely, and this is no exception. Deep golden color with rather big bubbles/mousse, but they are persistent. The nose is first dominated by yeast and brioche that soon gives way to a honeyed red-apple tone that keeps on growing. Full bodied attack, smooth mousse (a bit surprising given the visuals of big bubbles). High acidity as you should expect from a non-malo champagne, but this is finely balanced by fruity tones of red apples, peach and lots of lime and orange zest at the finish. Very long, very fresh, perhaps a bit coarse, but delightful with food. This is perfect now, but will keep for God knows how long. A wine for hearty shellfish dishes!