Pierre Gerbais Extra-Brut Les Grandes Côtes Lieu Dit Blanc de Noirs NV

Pierre Gerbais Extra-Brut Les Grandes Côtes Lieu Dit Blanc de Noirs NV

One of the new guard of young gun Champagne producers from the Aube. As South as you can get in Champagne, this subregion historically was considered a part of Burgundy. With a high propensity of Kimmeridgian soil, it's fossilised marl and chalk are reminiscent of Chablis. Aurelien Gerbais is apart of a handful of smaller producers like Cedric Bouchard, Vouette et Sorbee, Jacques Lassaigne and Ulysse Collin that are making extremely vinous cuvees, with fully mature fruit, the Aube almost has a vintage profile of it's own and in some years cannot be likened to the conditions further North in Champagne. 

After studying in Burgundy, Aurélien spent his formative years as a winemaker working for Olivier Lamy and Hubert Lamy in St Aubin. He spent 3 years there, prior to returning to his family's holdings in the Aube in 2011. As soon as he arrived he initiated a program focused on showing terroir of specific older vine Lieu Dit through Solera/perpetual reserve bottlings. This perpetual reserve is now 8 years old and as William Kelley quips "Aurélien Gerbais is one of the most promising and most confidence inspiring rising stars of the Aube"

"The NV Extra-Brut Les Grandes Côtes derives from Pinot Noir planted in a north-facing site, matured as a perpetual reserve spanning the 2011-2018 vintages. Wafting from the glass with aromas of peach, orange oil, pear, beeswax and fresh bread, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and ample, with a fleshy core of perfumed fruit animated by a pillowy mousse, concluding with a long, aromatic finish." 95 Points - William Kelley