Alexandre Filaine - Cuvee Speciale Champagne NV (1.5L)
Price: $269.00
| Producer | Alexandre Filaine |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Sku | 10259 |
| Size | 1.5L |
Alexandre Filaine Description
Wine Advocate: "At his small winery in Damery, Fabrice Gass crafts superb wines under his family's Alexandre Filaine label. Situated on the right bank of the Marne and planted predominantly with Pinot Meunier, complemented by an important minority of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Damery was where the Champagne riots of 1910–1911 began, and the big négociants have never forgiven the village: it's seldom talked about and merited only a lowly 89% on the échelle des crus. But anyone touring Damery's steep and extensive slopes will credit it with potential; and in Gass's hands, farmed organically but without certification, it certainly delivers brilliant results.
After many years working chez Bollinger, it's no surprise that winemaking evokes the Bollinger method of yesteryear: Gass uses old barrels from Bollinger, some dating back to the 1920s (he laments only how difficult it is to find anyone who knows how to repair their unusually thick, no-longer-standard staves), and racks his wines three times, fining with isinglass; some 30% of each year is retained in wood to constitute reserve wines for the next year's tirage; all wines excreting the entry-level cuvée see tirage under cork; and liqueur d'expedition consists of cane sugar and old wine (in these warmer vintages, more for the patina they contribute, Gass explains, than to temper the wine's brisk but ripe acids). This is unreconstructed, artisanal winemaking, and the ensuing wines are immensely complex, intensely flavorful, replete with sapid nuance and delightfully old-fashioned in style. The only challenge is finding a few bottles, as quantities are tiny. But the good news is that, following the termination of a contract with Ayala, Gass's production will be expanding a little in the years to come."
John Gilman: 94 Points
NV Alexandre Filaine “Cuvée Spéciale” Brut NV (Damery)) The newest release of Fabrice Gass’ Cuvée Spéciale is from the base year of 2021 and includes reserve wines from the 2020 vintage. Not surprisingly, it is again an utterly stunning young wine, offering up a deep and complex bouquet of pear, passion fruit, a touch of apple, a beautiful base of chalky soil tones, brioche, white lilies and just a touch of oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, racy and complex, with superb depth of fruit at the core, fine soil inflection and grip, a serious spine of acidity, fine mousse and a very long, pure and seamlessly balanced finish. This wine is certainly approachable today, but experience has taught me that the rewards of tucking this wine away in the cellar for five years before starting to drink it will be handsome dividends. (Drink between 2029 - 2065)
vfcWine Advocate: 93 Points
"Gass's newly disgorged NV Brut Cuvée Spéciale is especially good offering up aromas of pear orange zest praline toasted nuts and spices followed by a medium to full-bodied fleshy palate with a deep core of sweet fruit and a long spicy complex finish."
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