Champagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club” (2008) - Domaine Henri Goutorbe
This wine comes from a top-quality winegrowing area, Grand Cru, which accounts for just 9% of the whole Champagne region. The Cuvée "Spécial Club" 2008 is made only in the best vintages and aged for at least five years before going on sale. Maison Henri Goutorbe, which produces it, has a long history, having been founded in 1947.
Champagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club” (2008) - Domaine Henri Goutorbe
Type: Sparkling wine or Champagne
Area: France, Champagne, Vallée de la Marne
Appellation: Champagne AOC Grand Cru
Grape variety: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2008
Winery: Domaine Henri Goutorbe
Alcohol: 12%
The appellation: Champagne AOC Grand Cru
Champagne AOC Grand Cru represents the absolute pinnacle of Champagne, designating wines produced exclusively in the 17 villages classified as Grand Cru, the highest level in the quality scale of the Champagne AOC appellation.
Find out more about Champagne AOC Grand CruWhat to eat with Champagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club”
Who makes it: Domaine Henri Goutorbe
The Goutorbe family can trace its origins as winegrowers and nurserymen between Aÿ and Perrier-Jouët as far back as just after the First World War, but it was from the late 1940s that it began producing its own Champagne.Later, in 1970, René Goutorbe took over the estate from his father Henri and ushered in a new era, carried on today by the third generation: Elisabeth, Bertrand and Étienne.
Find out more about Domaine Henri GoutorbeThe vine of Champagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club”
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted and prestigious white grape varieties in the world, originally from Burgundy, in France. Thanks to its great adaptability to different climates and soils, Chardonnay is grown in many wine regions, expressing unique characteristics according to the terroir and the winemaking style.
Find out morePinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the most fascinating and noble black grape varieties in the world. Famous for its elegance and complexity, this variety is at the heart of some of the most prestigious wines on the globe, particularly the wines of Burgundy and Champagne AOC. Its versatility and its ability to reflect the terroir make it one of the varieties most loved by winemakers and wine lovers alike.
Find out moreChampagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club”: the Vallée de la Marne area
Vallée de la Marne
The Vallée de la Marne is one of the four main sub-regions of the Champagne region, along with the Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs and the Côte des Bar. Lying along the course of the river Marne, this winegrowing area is famous for producing Champagne with a fruity, soft profile, thanks to the predominance of the Pinot Meunier grape.
Find out more about Vallée de la MarneClimate: Continental
Altitude: Low Altitude (0-200 m above sea level)
Soil: Limestone / chalk
Geographical setting: River
Profile of Champagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club”
Primary aromas: Citrus, Cherry, Apple, Melon
Secondary aromas: Brioche, Coffee, Caramel, Honey, Toasted bread
Tertiary aromas: Candied citrus, Yeast, Hazelnut, Spices
Tasting notes: This sparkling wine shows a bright golden colour and a fine, elegant perlage. On the nose it releases an intense, elegant bouquet, with notes of ripe fruit, honey and white flowers, enriched by shades of hazelnut and toasted bread. In the mouth it is full and creamy, with excellent freshness and a balanced structure. The finish is long and persistent, with a citrus and mineral aftertaste. This is a cuvée of great complexity and finesse, expressing at its best the elegance and richness of its home terroir.
| Sulphites | yes |
| Body | Full-bodied |
| Acidity | High |
| Tannin | Absent |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Finish | Long |
| Colour | Golden yellow |
| Clarity | Clear |
Winemaking methods used for Champagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club”
Metodo Classico
The Metodo Classico is a refined sparkling winemaking technique used to produce high-quality sparkling wines. This method, also known as méthode champenoise (when speaking of Champagne), involves a second fermentation in the bottle, which gives the wine its characteristic fine, persistent bubbles, together with complex aromas and an elegant structure.
Find out moreSecond fermentation in the bottle
Second fermentation in the bottle is the distinctive stage of the Metodo Classico (or Champenoise), the technique used to produce high-quality sparkling wines. After a first fermentation that gives rise to a base wine, the wine is bottled with the addition of a “liqueur de tirage” (a mixture of sugar and yeasts) which starts a new fermentation directly in the bottle, responsible for the natural formation of the bubbles. This practice lies behind some of the world's most refined wines, such as Champagne, Franciacorta, Trento DOC and Crémant.
Find out moreAgeing methods used for Champagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club”
In bottle (over 36 months)
Ageing in bottle for more than 36 months is a practice reserved for wines for long laying down, designed for those seeking depth, finesse and maximum aromatic development. During this extended period, the wine matures sheltered from light and oxygen, letting time do its work in silence. This stage is particularly important for vintage wines, riservas and great classics, which in this way reach a perfect balance between intensity, elegance and sensory complexity.
Find out moreTime on the lees for Champagne Brut Grand Cru Cuvée “Spécial Club”
- Very long (over 36 months)