Henri Goutorbe Grand Cru Millésimé Special Club Brut Champagne AOC 2006

While a Champagne from the village of Aÿ is always a special treat, an Aÿ Grand Cru Special Club release represents the best of the best. The qualification criteria for Special Club Champagnes are stringent. All of the wine has to come from the estate’s own vineyards and be bottled and aged in the domain’s own cellars. The vintage has to pass not one but two blind taste tests by oenological professionals: the first, of the still wine prior to bottling, and the second after three years’ aging en tirage. There is no guarantee of Special Club status every year; only the best vintages are granted the honor. This 2006 Special Club from the Aÿ Grand Cru vineyards of the Henri Goutorbe estate is made from 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay. The Goutorbe family has been making excellent estate-bottled Champagne for generations, and this fine example lives up to the name. This particular batch was disgorged in July 2019. Expect to be greeted by a rich caramel aroma, followed by ripe apple flavors, elegant acidity, a full-bodied, concentrated texture, and a long finish. Sustainably grown.