New Release. Now £60.00. Introduction: Cellared in the total darkness and coolness of the House’s cellars, the Champagne Grand Blanc de Blancs is revealed in its new clear bottle.   The clear bottle underlines the unique sparkle, purity and brilliance of the pale gold colour and delicate green highlights of this legendary blend, while evoking the mineral quality found on the palate and the wine’s origins in the chalk so characteristic of the great Champagne terroirs. All the charm and freshness of the chardonnay grapes is revealed in this presentation, which emphasises the aesthetic quality of the antique eighteenth-century bottle so emblematic of the House.   It also pays tribute to Suzanne Gosset (1885-1970), who pioneered the use of clear bottles for champagne.   Launched in 2011, this blend, which must be a great Gosset before being a great Grand Blanc de Blancs according to its creator, Jean-Pierre Mareigner, remains the House’s only blend consisting of 100% chardonnay.   The Grand Blanc de Blancs is a precious concentration of the greatest chardonnay terroirs: fifteen villages on the Côte des Blancs chosen for their finesse (Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cuis) and the Côte des Noirs for their structure (Ambonnay, Villers-Marmery, Tours-sur-Marne, Trépail). All these expressions are combined, carrying the aromatic complexity and precision of the blend through the palate.   Its nose, both mineral and floral, reveals fragrances of flowers, white fruit, apricot, mirabelle plum and light touches of bitter lemon and other citrus notes, quince jelly, sweet honey and star anise. In the mouth, the salty expression specific to the terroir of Champagne is immediately seductive. Meanwhile, the ageing in the cellars develops the aromas of white flowers, which blend with gently toasted fragrances.   Worked Burgundy-style by stirring the lees, the wine gains in body, generosity and expressiveness. The silky texture and harmonious palate are characteristic of this lively, well-structured, crisp, fresh champagne.   It is the ideal companion for aperitifs and combines perfectly with scallops, crab remoulade, gougères, oysters or a Parmesan or white meat risotto.   Champagne Gosset Grand Blanc de Blancs was the Guide Hachette’s 2016 Coup de Coeur, won the Drinks Business Médaille d’Or and is one of the 16 favourite champagnes of Gérard Basset, the best sommelier in the world. Champagne Gosset Blanc de Blancs, a refined, elegant blend in a new presentation with the emphasis on purity for a unique tasting experience.   Background Information: Champagne Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne established in Ay in 1584 and is owned by the Cointreau family. The Cointreaus also own Gosset’s sister company, Cognac Frapin, and Jean Pierre is currently C.E.O of both companies. They bought Gosset in 1993 when Albert Gosset of the original Gosset family died. The Cointreaus hold strong the belief that Gosset is a family run business and maintain the hands on approach that was started by the original Gosset family. Situated in the tiny Grand Cru village of Aÿ, 5 kilometres north of Epernay, Gosset has some rather famous neighbours, including Bollinger. However, production is much below that of the larger houses and would struggle to reach the number of bottles produced by Krug in a year. Yearly production has now reached almost 1.3 million bottles. All Gosset champagnes are ‘recently disgorged’ and the house does not undertake malolactic fermentation. This preserves acidity which in turn keeps the wine fresh for much longer. Bottles are removed from one part of the cellar to another every six months, and given a vigorous shake in the process. This reinvigorates any live yeast and is only carried out by a few houses. The Gosset style is very creamy, dry but not acidic, full, biscuity and yeasty. All the cuvees have good bottle age. The champagnes are excellent by themselves or with food.