There is little doubt that Ulysse Collin is making some of the greatest expressions of Champagne.
In the past few months, I've had a handful of mind-blowing bottles. A few of these were with long-time collectors who had never heard of Ulysse Collin. Each time, they were stunned by the champagnes.
 |
Ulysse Collin is famed for producing Champagnes of epic scale and riveting minerality. Pierrières may be the ideal place to witness Collin's unique style. Its unusual terroir lends a pronounced chalkiness and a lovely, racy finesse to the wine.
Collin recently began to release Champagnes with extended lees aging, like the Les Pierrières 48 Months on offer today. The entire lineup is brilliant, but the extended lees aging is simply on another level.
Pierrières is a 1.2 ha vineyard located in the village of Vert-Toulon. In Pierrières, the chalk in the vineyard is extremely close to the surface and mixed with black silex. Of Ulysse Collin's lineup, Les Pierrières offers the most precise, penetrating minerality and lifted elegance.
The 2016 base of Pierrières is incisive, powerful, and complex. It covers an incredibly wide range, from layers of citrus to stone fruits, stony minerality, smoke, and herbs. There's an amazing radiant expansiveness to the wine.
Collin's Pierrières is simply one of the singular and profound wines of Champagne. We've been fans of the wines for well over a decade, and they improve with each vintage. This very well may be the most exciting domain in Champagne. Don't miss this.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
William Kelley, The Wine Advocate: "Disgorged with 1.7 grams per liter dosage after 48 months sur lattes, Collin's NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Pierrières (2016) 48 months bursts with aromas of green apple, blanched almonds, confit citrus and pastry cream. Full-bodied, layered and muscular, it's deep and concentrated, with racy acids and this site's telltale chiseled, incisive profile; it's long and penetrating, concluding with chalky grip. With this late-disgorged version, Les Pierrières takes another step."