Diebolt-Vallois is a long-standing benchmark in Champagne.
The impressive list of world-class restaurants where their cuvée Prestige is poured by the glass drives home how impressive this Champagne is.
To sum things up quickly: This Champagne is beyond compelling, the price is beyond belief.
Along with producers, like Agrapart, Pierre Peters, and Lilbert, Diebolt-Vallois is what we reach for when we're after utterly classic Blanc de Blancs. And that's very often. The Côte des Blancs makes some of the most riveting expressions of Champagne, and the Chardonnay grape in general.
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Diebolt-Vallois' style beautifully captures just how thrilling the Champagnes from Côte des Blancs chalky soils are. Their signatures are classy, finessed wines with a kinetic energy, laser-like focus, and tense minerality.
There's no doubt that a good part of Diebolt-Vallois' success is due to their well-situated holdings in one of Champagne's best Grand Crus, Cramant, along with additional holdings in Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cuis and Epernay.
It's old-vine Cramant that forms the backbone of cuvée Prestige with grapes also coming from Mesnil, Oger, and Chouilly. It's composed of seven different vintages in a perpetual reserve stretching back to 2009 that's stored in oak foudres, and younger wine vinified in a tank. The result is a vigorous Champagne of depth and verve.
The cuvée Prestige has an amazingly seamless elegance showing chalky minerality and nervy acidity. We love how it combines driving focus with silkiness and deep complexity. It's a combination that you rarely see done so well.
I started discussing the wine by highlighting the price, but that quickly receded. It's a bottle that stands on its own beyond being simply "a deal." Last year, we were happily selling the cuvée Prestige for $55. The fact that we can sell it for $40 makes it a don't miss deal.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs cuvée Prestige NV
Special Bottle Price: $44.95Compare at $48-65
Special 4-Pack Price: $159.80 ($39.95/btl)