The number 37 of the famous Avenue de Champagne (Épernay) hosts one of our dearest champagne house, Michel Gonet. Located in a beautiful baroque building, called Villa Signolle, the champagne house is always welcoming its guests with excellent champagne and great hospitality. The hosts make you feel the spirit of Champagne Michel Gonet through irresistible cuvées, served in a comfortable and elegant room of the villa or in their lovely garden, if weather allows for it. We visited them twice: first time in August 2019 and second time about six weeks ago, in December 2021. Each time we had a magnificent experience and we left thinking about our next visit.
Although all tasted cuvees were magnifique, we would like to acknowledge two of them which made our visit unforgettable.
First, the 2005 Authentique, from Mesnil-sur-Oger, old vines of “lieu-dit les Hautes Mottes”. This is a splendid gourmet wine, complex, brioché and mineral. With at least 10 years of aging on lees, and 7 months in oak barrels, this cuvee is deep gold, almost amber colour. Deep nose, blooming, revealing pastry and dry fruits fragrances, with wooden notes. It is well structured and balanced, with a present freshness and an infinite after taste. Amazing with foie gras toasts, it could also go very well with fish or white meat. This cuvée will, for sure, stay in our minds while thinking when we could taste it again. A real privilege for all senses!
The other cuvee we want to highlight is the beautiful 2012 millésime grand cru – a true expression of the Mesnil-sur-Oger terroir combined with an iconic vintage. This is a refined wine, mineral with chalky notes which undergone both low temperature fermentation and malolactic fermentation and has spent more than 7 years on lees. The 2012 cuvee is an extra-brut which had a beautiful pale gold color, light mouth, being elegant and refreshing. This cuvée made 100% from chardonnay stands out thanks to its low amount of sugar added, allowing us to discover the beauty of a wine which comes from the best plots of the Champagne region. Its versatility allows it to go well with your aperitifs and can be shared in a meal, with a starter, a main dish or a desert. Notably, this cuvee won 2 stars (étoiles) in the Guide Hachette for 2021. Another incredible jewel which will stay in our memory for some time!
Champagne LoungeBar 