2 minute read
By Rebecca Palmer
What finer way to lift your Christmas celebrations than sharing a bottle of champagne? Particularly if that champagne is as lovely as Delamotte — Corney & Barrow’s champagne of choice for many years.
The sixth oldest Champagne house, founded in 1760, with an illustrious history and enviable pedigree, Delamotte retains a gloriously understated presence in a champagne world awash with the glitz and glamour of big name grandes marques. Amid the shiny bling and noise, Delamotte stands with quiet poise.
Elegance is the watchword of the house, borne of its location, heritage and ownership. Home is the Côte des Blancs and the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (held by many to be the greatest grand cru of all) so Delamotte’s devotion to the Chardonnay grape should come as no surprise. In local circles, it is affectionately dubbed ‘the other great blanc de blancs’, a nod to its sister house, the legendary Champagne Salon, with whom it shares its premises, team, and dedication to quality.
This unwavering commitment, underpinned by an uncompromising work ethic, drives every decision and every action, from the vineyard to the cellar. Just a handful of talented women and men oversee every facet of the operation — a loyal and long-standing team run by an extraordinary man, Didier Depond, who has led this small Champagne house for many years. Didier’s drive for quality is absolute, aiming to capture in every bottle the finesse of the Côte des Blancs, one of the wine world’s most magical terroirs.
By comparison with some houses, Delamotte is unusual in producing just a small handful of champagnes. Each has a clear identity. The Blanc de Blancs Vintage cuvée is produced only in special years. The current (2018) vintage is a luminous, uplifting champagne reflecting the radiant sunshine of the year. It is a rare blend, featuring all six grand crus of the Côte des Blancs: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (the heart of the cuvée, unsurprisingly), Avize, Oger, Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry. Available in limited quantities, this refined champagne would make a luxurious glass on Christmas day, or indeed a wonderful gift.
The Blancs de Blancs Non-Vintage cuvée is the essence of the house of Delamotte, a blend of several grand crus, notably Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Like the vintage cuvée, it sees extended lees ageing, gaining in flavour and textural finesse over time. A magical champagne, extraordinarily versatile as an aperitif or with food, we are rather fond of half-bottles: the perfect size to share with someone special (in fact, I am quite partial to sharing one with myself…).
We are also delighted to include Delamotte Brut Non- Vintage in this year’s Christmas offer, the first time in a few years, having been able to secure an additional allocation. Chardonnay-dominant (naturellement!), complemented by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, this delicious champagne has all classic hallmarks of Delamotte: the unmistakable scent of jasmine, the elegant curve of poached pear on the palate, and seamless mousse laced with toast and minerals… if this weren’t tempting enough, we are extending a 15% discount on this cuvée for the duration of our festive offer. Merry Christmas indeed!