Philippe Gonet "TER" Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne NV
(Champagne, France) - [WA 92]

About the Winery:
Founded in 1830, Champagne Philippe Gonet is located in the heart Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, next door to Salon and a few steps away from Clos du Mesnil. The 19 hectares of family vineyards are divided among 45 parcels. Chardonnay is the Gonet family’s selected grape variety with one-third of their holdings in Le Mesnil. Stunning lots in La Chapelle-Monthodon, Vertus, and Le Breuil produce their Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

In 1977, following a request from a loyal customer, Philippe Gonet created the Pierre Cellier line from the Gonet estate vineyards naming it in honor of his first born son, Pierre, and his wife’s maiden name. The request was for a younger, more approachable, fruit-driven style with value in mind. With two years on the lees before disgorgement and seven grams dosage, this small project has only recently become available in the U.S.

About this Wine:
The TER Collection is born out the desire to highlight our terroirs, hence the simplified name. They are subtle blends of three terroirs, carefully selected, for each cuvée. The bottle design is inspired from one blown in the 18th century, found in the cellars of the chateau. The collar is very thin and delicate; the curve of the shoulders is very generous. Pierre Gonet chose to make the collection in 60-hectoliter oak barrels, to bring out the complexity and depth of his wines. Without malolactic fermentation, these cuvées are exceptional. Some of the vines never received any insecticides or herbicides, out of respect for the soil, and a desire to have a more ecological approach. TER cuvées represent the epitome of Champagne Philippe Gonet’s style.

Origin:
This pure Chardonnay is a selection from three plots. One-third comes from “Les Hautes Mottes” of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger; the second third, from the “Vozémieux” terroir of Oger. These two terroirs of the Cote des Blancs are classified Grand Cru, and the vines have never received herbicides or pesticides. The last third comes from the soil “Les Corrigniers” of Ludes, Premier Cru, of the Montagne de Reims. This great wine is chiseled and precise; a tension is present and persists in a saline finish. An outstanding wine.

Tasting Notes:
Pale yellow with a green light. the perlage is abundant and live a fine mousse which stays at the top of the glass. Elegant nose, fine, fresh nuts, subtle vanilla aromas which introduce fresh citrus fruits like grapefruit and lime. The mouth smooth at the beginning lives quickly the place to the lively freshness typical of the chardonnay grape. The end on white flowers has a great salinity which comes from the chalk, makes remember the purity of the origin of the terroir.

Ratings & Reviews

92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The Philippe Gonet’s NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée TER, a 100% Chardonnay, offers up aromas of pear, apple, almonds, spices and fresh pastry intertwined with exotic notes. Medium to full-bodied, it’s seamless and sapid with a vinous core of fruit and delicate scents of lemon oil and blossom, concluding with a mineral, chalky-extract finish." – Yohan Castaing (Nov 2024)