# Special Club Brut Premier Cru (2012)

- **Producer:** Duménil
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Average price:** €75
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** grapefruit, pear, apple, lemon, peach, bread dough, pastry, biscuit, brioche, honey, dried apricot, hazelnut, almond

## About this wine

The Duménil Special Club Brut Premier Cru 2012 is a distinguished Champagne from the Champagne AOC, produced by the family-owned estate, Duménil. This wine is a 'Special Club' bottling, indicating it is a curated selection from the producer's Premier Cru vineyards, reflecting a focus on quality and the expression of its origin. The estate has a history dating back to 1923, with a legacy of traditional winemaking. The 2012 vintage was notable for a difficult growing season followed by a favorable late summer, contributing to the wine's character.

## Interesting facts

- The 'Special Club' designation signifies a wine selected from the best Premier Cru vineyards.
- Duménil's vineyards are primarily located in the esteemed Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims.
- This wine is crafted with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, classic Champagne varietals.
- The 2012 vintage presented significant weather challenges, testing growers' resilience.

## Food pairing

The wine's acidity cuts through the richness of creamy sauces and fatty proteins, while its complexity complements the delicate flavors of seafood and poultry. The effervescence cleanses the palate, making each bite a fresh experience.

## Wine making process

The Duménil Special Club Brut Premier Cru 2012 is produced using the traditional method, involving a secondary fermentation in the bottle to create its effervescence. Following this, the wine undergoes aging on its lees, a process that contributes to its complexity and texture. Key stages include riddling, where bottles are gradually turned to collect sediment, and disgorgement, where the sediment is removed. The grapes for this wine are sourced from Premier Cru vineyards, and the 2012 harvest required careful selection due to challenging weather patterns.