NV Philippe Gonet 'TER' Blanc Brut, Champagne, France

The TER Collection is born out the desire to highlight our terroirs, hence the simplified name. They are subtle blends of three terroirs, carefully selected, for each cuvée. The bottle design is inspired from one blown in the 18th century, found in the cellars of the chateau. The collar is very thin and delicate; the curve of the shoulders is very generous. Pierre Gonet chose to make the collection in 60-hectoliter oak barrels, to bring out the complexity and depth of his wines. Without malolactic fermentation, these cuvées are exceptional. Some of the vines never received any insecticides or herbicides, out of respect for the soil, and a desire to have a more ecological approach. TER cuvées represent the epitome of Champagne Philippe Gonet’s style.

Origin: This pure Chardonnay is a selection from three plots. One-third comes from “Les Hautes Mottes” of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger; the second third, from the “Vozémieux” terroir of Oger. These two terroirs of the Cote des Blancs are classified Grand Cru, and the vines have never received herbicides or pesticides. The last third comes from the soil “Les Corrigniers” of Ludes, Premier Cru, of the Montagne de Reims. This great wine is chiseled and precise; a tension is present and persists in a saline finish. An outstanding wine.

Tasting: Pale yellow with a green light. the perlage is abundant and live a fine mousse which stays at the top of the glass. Elegant nose, fine, fresh nuts, subtle vanilla aromas which introduce fresh citrus fruits like grapefruit and lime. The mouth smooth at the beginning lives quickly the place to the lively freshness typical of the chardonnay grape. The end on white flowers has a great salinity which comes from the chalk, makes remember the purity of the origin of the terroir.