2012 Raumland Chardonnay Grande Reserve (120 months) Brut Nature

The 2012 Chardonnay Brut Nature Grande Réserve opens with a deep, clear and discreet, fine but then intense and concentrated lemony and limestone bouquet of lemon peel and juice with hints of frankincense and iodine. The wine is full-bodied, intense and rich yet also fine and elegant, with enormous mineral freshness and tension that makes it leaner than it really is. But in fact, this is a mouth-filling and powerful yet elegant, always youthful and refreshing sparkling wine for three-starred menus and even aperitifs. It's very, very long and vital yet still with a palatable oak influence. It was disgorged in February 2024 after 128 months sur lattes. 12% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in July 2024. "2012 was an outstanding sparkling wine vintage for us," says Volker Raumland. The beginning of the year was bitterly cold and very dry into April. The hoped-for precipitation then arrived at flowering, causing slight coulure and thus a natural reduction in yield. In summer, there was sufficient rainfall and perfect grape temperatures. The result was small, thick-skinned berries in perfect weather conditions for the harvest.