Domaine Jean-Noel Gagnard Cremant de Bourgogne Le Grand Lys 2018

Domaine Jean-Noel Gagnard Cremant de Bourgogne Le Grand Lys

Region: Bourgogne, Burgundy, France

Vintage: 2018

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Pinot Noir

ABV: 12.5%

Notes: Vegetarian, certified organic

Le Grand Lys is richer and more complex than many wines from this appellation. It has lovely concentrated flavours of white fruits, sweet pastries and toasted almonds. On the palate it has crisp, refreshing acidity and a delicate mousse.

The grapes for this wine are sourced from the ‘Clos Bortier’ vineyard in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. This site overlooks Saint Aubin at an altitude of 300 metres above sea level. The vines are Guyot-trained and were planted in 2015 with a south-westerly exposure. The soils here are silty clays which are enriched with biodynamic composts at the end of every winter. The vineyard is certified organic.

This famous domaine has been run by Caroline Lestimé, Jean-Noël’s daughter, since 1989. Its 12.5 hectares of outstanding vineyards have been certified organic since 2014, and are now run biodynamically, though are not yet certified as such. Most of the estate’s vineyards are in the heart of Chassagne, with one vineyard in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune, which looks down on St. Aubin and was planted in 2015. The wines are, in the best sense of the phrase, ‘low intervention’ wines, with each expressing the character of its site.