Wine Advisor
Gosset, Celebris Extra Brut Vintage 2008
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Gosset's just-released 2008 Extra-Brut Celebris is showing beautifully out of the gates, offering up sweet aromas of citrus oil, dried white flowers, warm biscuits and nougat, with hints of the dried fruits to come. Medium to full-bodied, racy and layered, with a firm core of fruit that's girdled by tangy acids and a long, penetrating finish, the house's typically tensile style is married with real flesh and weight.
About the Producer
In 1584, Pierre Gosset, alderman of Aý and winegrower made still wines, mostly red, with the grapes he harvested from his own vines. In those days, two wines vied for pride of place at the table of the Kings of France: the wine of Ay and the wines of Beaune. Both were made from the same grape varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Then, in the XVIIIth century, the wines made in and around Ay began to bubble. Today, the Gosset cuvees are still presented in the antique flask identical to the one used since the XVIIIth centur Gosset blends together the best Crus of the Marne district (Grands Crus and Premiers Crus) with a 95% average classification on the official quality scale ("échelle des crus"). They carefully avoid malo-lactic fermentation so that the wines keep all their natural fruitiness. "With Gosset Champagne, the wine comes first, the bubbles come later." This is the motto of the house, to which Jean-Pierre Mareigner, their cellar master, has been faithful for 31 years. More than a style, Gosset is a signature, the signature of a 438-year-old Champagne house now renowned worldwide. Yet, despite its long history, the house is never resting and has always something new to offer. Now the Blanc de Blancs is released in a new clear bottle that underlines the unique sparkle, purity and brilliance of the pale gold and also pays tribute to Suzanne Gosset (1885-1970), who pioneered the use of clear bottles for Champagne. But the main news is the release of the Blanc de Noirs, a 100% Pinot Noir (from Ambonnay, Ay, Verzy, Chigny-Les-Roses and Tauxieres). The nose shows powerful potential and beautiful concentration. You might expect a Champagne like this to be nothing but power, but it is no such thing, it is above all freshness and delicacy which greet you and leave you with an impression of great harmony. "I was extremely impressed with the wines I tasted from Gosset, From top to bottom this is an exceptional line-up." Wine Advocate
