Yann Alexandre Champagne Grande Reserve NV

lediglich ca. 3120 Flaschen wurden von diesem Champagner produziert

- COUP DE COEUR in La Revue du vin de France: "Partiellement vinifié en fût et construit sur une base de 2009, Grande Réserve revêt une robe plus dorée, affiche un équilibre élégant avec une structure affirmée pour la table. Le mot du vigneron, Yann Alexandre : "5 parcelles de Coulommes-la-Montagne, Villedommange et Vrigny. Complexe, plus "terre" qu’ "aérien", sur des notes de beurre et de tabac, à boire au coin de la cheminée !""

- DECANTER: "Earthy mushroom and red fruits nose and rich, textured mouthful of savoury bready notes and lingering cranberry fruit."

- WINE ENTHUSIAST, Roger Voss: "An attractive nonvintage wine, sweeter than some other Yann Alexandre offerings. There is a ripe apple flavor, touched with light tannins and minerality. The finish is warm, soft and rich."

- GERHARD EICHELMANN: "Der Grande Reserve Brut Premier Cru enthält 30 bis 35 Prozent Reserveweine aus zwei bis drei Jahrgängen, durchläuft die malolaktische Gärung und wird sieben Jahre auf der Hefe ausgebaut. Er besteht aus 40 ProzentPinot Noir, 40 Prozent Chardonnay und 20 Prozent Meunier und wird mit 8 Gramm dosiert. Er zeigt feine rauchige Noten, etwas Würze, gute Konzentration, weiße und gelbe Früchte, florale Noten im Hintergrund. Er ist klar und zupackend im Mund, komplex und frisch, besitzt gute Struktur und feinen Grip, ist sehr eigenständig, kann gut ein ganzes Menü begleiten."

- Magazin WEINWIRTSCHAFT: "... fein gereift, Quittengelee mit Apfel, sehr röstig und hefig, würzig; reife Säure, in sich ruhend, offene Art."

- Garagiste, By Jon Rimmerman: "Champagne Dear Friends, I don’t know about you but Champagne has become one of my most enjoyable imbibements as of late and it has much to do with the quality of new producers and artisans that make this region a hotbed of talent. Once labeled as heretics, this new generation has pushed the establishment to take action, but not for the reason you may believe. Where the big houses once had what seemed to be an endless source of Grand Cru and 1er fruit, the growers are now keeping many of the best lots back for their own use and it has started to put pressure on the best commercial houses of Champagne. Krug may be next. Yann Alexandre knows what he’s talking about - his wine made up a critical component of Krug’s Grande Cuvee and of their vintage Brut. Not anymore. While he still supplies grapes for Krug, he takes the best for his own label and when we say this is an exciting discovery in the masculine style of Krug, we’re not kidding. If you like the Bollinger or Grande Cuvee style, this will be like finding a bargain Calvin Klein jacket in the closeout rack - same jacket, just at a fraction of the price. Not that this is produced the same way as Krug but it’s a compelling story nonetheless - the material from around Courmas, where Alexandre has their vineyards, is exceptional and the winery has realized the maximum potential of the terroir. A conversion to full-scale organic viticulture has begun, complete with grass cover in the vineyards for natural fertilizer (curiously, Krug was not interested in promoting natural methods - weed killer was just fine). The wines are as minimally handled as possible and a very light dosage (if any) is used. We present two very interesting wines below, both are quite different and both are worth your attention. If you are a Champagne explorer, these are priced more than right for a new entrant that has actually been growing grapes since 1933. Please note: This is not Alexander von Essen NV Yann Alexandre Brut “Grand Reserve” Grand Vin (1996, 1998 blend) (Courmas) Alexandre’s first statement is “proud to be an independent wine grower” - the old-vines are tended with care and the fact that they offer this wine, what would be vintage material for most, at this price is testament to their consumer commitment. A true reserve blend of top material from over 20 different micro-parcels on their land (all vinified separately and blended at the end) - luck plays into our hands here as the current incarnation of the Grand Reserve has 1996 as its backbone (1996 is one of the best vintages in Champagne in the last twenty). This NV wine is quite unusual as it contains material that is at least a decade old and it drinks like a vintage wine from a great year but it is priced like a generic NV cuvee. From only old-vine 1er or better fruit, this is starting to evolve but still robust, piquant and biting. The winery states, like “old gold, intense, expressive, fresh and structured” - sounds like a 1996, doesn’t it? The wine is comprised of 30% Pinot Meunier, 35% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay. This is a wine not to miss at this price."

- 90 Punkte IWSC: "Wonderfully mellow with a complexity between the fruit, savoury notes and the impact of autolysis. The concentrated palate boasts lemon zest, marzipan and nutty notes with similar aromas. Nicely balanced."

- 90 Punkte WINESPECTATOR, Alison Napjus: "Fine and lacy in texture, with a tang of salinity underscoring subtle notes of blanched almond, Anjou pear and dried white cherry. Lightly refreshing and balanced. Drink now. 208 cases made."

- 93 DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2020: "Powerful wine with scents of toast, red apples, summer fruits and lemons. Creamy mousse with some brioche, apple and lemon flavours."

- 90 Punkte INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPRIRT COMPETITION: „Wonderfully mellow with a complexity between the fruit, savoury notes and the impact of autolysis. The concentrated palate boasts lemon zest, marzipan and nutty notes with similar aromas. Nicely balanced.“