Noel Bazin Blanc De Blancs L'Unanime 1er Cru NV

Noel Bazin is based in Villers-Marmery, the premier cru village on eastern side of Montage de Reims in Champagne. This village is famous for producing pristine elegant chardonnay on the hill of Pinot. 70% wine from 2022, 30% Solera method reserve wine including 10% reserve wine aged in oak barrels with 8g/l dosage.

Notes of green and red apples, fennel and lemon pith mix with faint scents of hazelnuts and sweet spices on the nose. The palate is racy and tensile, slowly unfurling with flavours of spiced apples and brioche. It walks the line beautifully between ripe fruits and savoury chalky accents, finishing with a minerally tang. The fine stream of bubbles adds to the overall elegance of this beauty. This is a racy and steely chardonnay from pinot country that offers an original and thrilling view point to the beauty grower Champagne at a humble price point. GABRIELLE POY

Glass to nose, we’re unmistakably onto a very good thing here. Pure and vibrant blanc de blancs characters of green apple, jasmine and crushed rock. We see a delicious underlying toasted nut character thanks to the back vintage solera reserve component. Then it’s a flavour bomb of chardonnay grown on chalk; preserved lemon, salted white peach and custard apple. Most impressively is the finish, flavours of Danish pastry and grilled cashews with a chalky finish and beeswax texture chew. Wonderfully balanced and full of flavour and interest. A very good NV Champagne. KAYLEEN REYNOLDS, pws