CHAMPAGNE DIEBOLT-VALLOIS - CRAMANT

Lastest press comments:

DECANTER magazine - July 2020

In a feature article on Cramant, Charles Curtis has selected a few producers to know. Diebolt-Vallois is the first of the list:

"Indisputably one of the top growers in the Cote des Blancs. The reputation of the estate was built by Jacques Diebolt and is maintained by his daughter Isabelle and son Arnaud. The winemaking here lavishes attention to detail, with parcel-by-parcel vinification and the top wines fermented in used casks. The range is marvellous throughout, marked by elegance, nuance and length. The vintage and Fleur de Passion bottlings are very long lived."

2010 Fleur de Passion: 96 pts. Lemon peel and wet chalk notes grow to include ripe apricot, flowers, marzipan and spice. Although the wine never loses its elegance, it shows impressive Intensity and concentration and has the substance to linger almost indefinitely. It is from the oldest vines of the domaine, particularly the lieu-dit Les Buzons, fermented in cask without malolactic fermentation, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. One of the greats, this will age for decades to come. (2020-2050)

2020-2021 GRANDI CHAMPAGNE GUIDE (Italy) :
« Guida alle migliori bollicine francesi in Italia » ( = Best French Bubbles in Italy)

Brut Blanc de Blancs : 92 /100

Brut Prestige : 91 /100.

Brut Rosé : 90 / 100

2020 "LES MEILLEURS VINS DE FRANCE" WINE GUIDE (by La Revue du Vin de France):

“An estate which sets the standard for blanc de blancs.”

“Jacques Diebolt, with the help of his children, is a fine winemaker who creates elegant, vigorous wines from his vineyards. These are mainly to be found in Cramant and Cuis in the Côte des Blancs area. He makes a range of wines dominated, as you would expect, by Chardonnay. These are gracious, very long lived (think of the legendary Cramant 1953) model champagnes, especially for the 2008 Fleur de Passion, vinified in barrel without malo-lactic fermentation. A reference house in white silky and posed whites, with a great serenity, far from the fashion of narrow and austere champagnes.”

Brut Prestige blanc de blancs: 15.5 /20. “A great charm emanates from Prestige, creamy, endowed with a savory and energetic stretch.”
2010 Fleur de Passion: 16.5 / 20. “After the phenomenal 2008, this beautifully oxidative 2010 already shows signs of evolution and deep balance. May be opened now or in the next fifteen years.”

2019 "LES MEILLEURS VINS DE FRANCE" WINE GUIDE (by La Revue du Vin de France):

“The wines: The two cuvées tasted this year reach a very high level. Their creamy style, carried by beautiful bitterness, is beyond fashions. An example of concentration and refinement.
Brut Prestige blanc de blancs: 16 /20
2008 Fleur de Passion: 17.5 / 20. The wine is restrained for the moment but in the coming decades it will deploy a reassuring breadth with the willowy energy of the vintage and a superb length carried by elegant bitterness. "

2018 "LES MEILLEURS VINS DE FRANCE" WINE GUIDE (by La Revue du Vin de France):

“The wines: a coherent range. The Brut Prestige is a perfect example of Blanc de Blancs Champagne, clear and aerial for the aperitif (15 /20). Champagne Vintage 2010 is finely shaped and defined, with a savory and saline finish, animated with original notes of sake (16 /20). The top-notch 2008 Fleur de Passion is a pure Cramant vinified in barrels without malo and reveals superb notes evoking greatest Andalusian white wines. The high concentration shapes it, this great champagne needs time to reaveal all of its potential (18 /20). "

2017 "LES MEILLEURS VINS DE FRANCE" WINE GUIDE (by La Revue du Vin de France):

“The wines: creamy with delicate exotic aroma, these Blancs de Blancs are classics of their kind from Cramant. Brut Prestige shows nice smoothness on the palate (15 /20). Champagne Vintage 2008 (Millésimé) has naturally more energy (15.5 /20). The racy Champagne Fleur de Passion 2007 belongs to the class of the greatest Chardonnays from Champagne (16.5 /20). It wonderfully offers the broad expression of exotic fruits and brioche typical of Cramant. A delicious vinous champagne.”

ENRICO BERNARDO - "My 2015 selection" - December 2015
World's Best Sommelier 2004, Enrico Bernardo has picked 8 champagnes. One of them is :

Champagne Prestige Blanc de Blancs : "The municipality of Cramant should erect a statue to Jacques Diebolt! This Champagne-maker has marked the history of Blanc de Blancs by his meticulous work, remarkable finesse and accuracy, and perfect understanding of its soil. Cuvée Prestige is the perfect match for oysters or crab." (Magazine Gala, december 2015)

FILM: A YEAR IN CHAMPAGNE - 2015
"Discover the intoxicating story behind the world's most famous wine"
A documentary film by David Kennard.

"With renowned wine importer Martine Saunier as our guide, we get a rare glimpse behind the scenes into the real Champagne through six houses, from small independent makers like Champagne Saint-Chamant, where each and every bottle is still turned by hand in the cellars, to the illustrious houses of Gosset and Bollinger which have been instrumental in shaping the image of Champagne around the world." Read more...

Diebolt-Vallois is one of the 6 Champagne houses featured in the film.

In theaters, on iTunes and DVD.
Trailer and more info on www.ayearinchampagne.com ...

2016 "LES MEILLEURS VINS DE FRANCE" WINE GUIDE (by La Revue du Vin de France):

“The wines: One of the best 'value for money' ratio of the entire 2016 guide, The Blanc de Blancs shows a superb fineness, is easy to drink and seductive. The Brut Prestige, blended from 4 years’ production is more rounded and deep. At this stage of its evolution it’s still flattened by the dosage. The Champagne Fleur de Passion 2006 has height and concentration with a solid backbone. An enjoyable tasting.”

Richard Juhlin : "A Scent of Champagne - 8,000 Champagne Tasted and Rated"

In his excellent new book, Champagne expert Richard Juhlin presents no less than 8,000 Champagne. He has reserved a special treatment to Jacques Diebolt and family in the chapter On a Journey in Champagne.

And, in the huge Producers and their Wines section :
Diebolt-Vallois * * * * (4-star champagne house)
"Several producers in the Cramant village make supremely enjoyable champagnes, but personaly I think Diebolt gives the cru another dimension, especially with those wines that haven't gone through malolactic fermentation, and which were harvested from the 65-year old vines in Les Pimonts or Les Buzons. There is a thought-provoking depth reminiscent of Mesnil, combined with Cramant's creamy structure. (...)"

Cuvée Prestige Blanc de Blancs :  91-92  (2005 & 2002 basis)

Champagne Vintage : 89 (2004) - 90 (2002) - 88 (1999) - 88 (1997) - 92 (1996) - 91 (1995) - 95 (1990)
Champagne Vintage : 93 (1989) - 93 (1985) - 94 (1983) - 92 (1982) - 97 (1961) - 98 (1959) - 97 (1953)
Vintage 1959 appears in the prestigious top list "The 100 best champagnes".

Champagne Fleur de Passion :  96 (2008) - 93 (2005) - 93 (2004) - 95 (2002) - 92 (2000)
Champagne Fleur de Passion :  94 (1999) - 95 (1998) - 89 (1997) - 95 (1996) - 95 (1995)
Fleur de Passion is on the 24th position in the top list "100 champagnes you should try at least once in your lifetime".

Richard Juhlin - A Scent of Champagne - 400 pages - Skyhorse Publishing 2013

VINORDIC WINE CHALLENGE - Stockholm, Sweden - April 2013

Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Prestige has been awarded a GOLD TROPHY 2013. The cuvee came out first in the "Champagne" category, before prestigious Champagne such as Comtes de Champagne, Henriot Millésimé or Bollinger Grande Année... (More info on results)

WINE SPECTATOR magazine - December 31, 2012

In an article titled Beyond the bubbles, Wine Spectator has selected the Diebolt-Vallois Champagne house in the TOP 100 Decembre 31 issue :

2005 Fleur de Passion: 93 points - "Fresh and floral, with a fine knit and notes of white peach, quince, mandarin orange, pastry, grated ginger and meringue. Offers a smoky, mineral-driven undertow and a long and focused finish of ground spice."

2006 Vintage Champagne: 93 points - "Shows lovely integration, with silky texture and mouthwatering acidity blending effortlessly with White peach, glazed pear, fresh ginger, piecrust and almond cream flavor. Provides a lightly floral, lasting finish."

Champagne Tradition : 92 points "Like an orchard in late spring, this blends floral and fruit notes of ripe apple, white cherry and apricot. There's a firm backbone of zesty acidity and underlying minerality, with a lingering hint of ginger on the finish."

Champagne Blanc de Blancs: 91 points "Rich and toasty in a restrained, taut package, offering yeasty bread dough and brioche accents to the notes of apple gelée, crystallized honey and citrus zest. This shows fine texture and bright acidity, with a hint of graphite on the finish."

Champagne Rosé: 88 points "Offers citrus-tinged acidity, a smoky base note and hints of dried cherry, almond skin in an easygoing style."

ROBERT PARKER - eRobertParker.com - Wine Advocate :

2006 Vintage Champagne : 94 points
« The 2006 Brut Blanc de Blancs from Diebolt-Vallois is gorgeous from the very first taste. Hints of brioche, nutmeg, pears and dried apricots flesh out in the glass. The 2006 is rich, deep and fleshy. Warm, toasty notes add considerable depth and textural richness, while sweet floral and mineral overtones add finish vibrancy to the finish This gorgeous, beautifully balanced Champagne is firing on all cylinders. I imagine the 2006 will be even better in another few years. »

STEPHEN TANZER'S INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR - Nov/Dec 2012

2005 Fleur de Passion: 93 points - "Light yellow-gold. Highly fragrant, mineral-accented bouquet offers fresh pear, honeysuckle and honey aromas with enlivening notes of ginger and chalky minerals. Spicy orchard and pit fruit, floral and lemon curd flavors are given lift and focus by tangy minerality. This sappy, penetrating Champagne finishes with resonating spiciness, impressive cling and excellent length."

Champagne Blanc de Blancs Prestige: 93 points - "This tightly knit Champagne brings something more with each sip, and a hint of peach leads first to ripe apple and quince flavors, then papaya, nut, lemon meringue, ginger, licorice, and grated coconut notes. This is very focused, with racy acidity and fine texture throughout."

WINE & SPIRITS Magazine - Year's Best Champagne - December 2011

Champagne Blanc de Blancs: 93 points - "Youthfully bright and subtle, this blanc de blancs starts from a scent of caramel and apples, expanding into fresher directions of zesty mint and fennel. The texture is supple, the flavors succulent and appetite inducing. You could take it in the direction of langoustines or roast veal."

Champagne Blanc de Blancs Prestige: 94 points - "The austere power of this wine buzzes in the mouth, a tingle of limestone, apple flesh and the pale toast of lees. It's a delicate, pure chardonnay that becomes dramatic in its intensity and breadth. The precision of the flavors will serve this well as it ages."

Champagne Rosé: 94 points - BEST BUY - "Deep in color and vinous in its red fruit, this is a spicy and compelling rosé. There's pristine strawberry flavor at its core, surrounded by accents of red grapefruit, blood orange and fennel. The wine's intensity rises like its bubbles from base note to high notes, leaving a pale red fruit ghosting in the finish."

GUIDE LAROUSSE DU CHAMPAGNE (Gerhard Eichelmann) :

"The champagnes are precise and clean. Brut Tradition and Blanc de Blancs are easy to drink, harmonious and perfect as an aperitif. The other champagnes in their range captivate by their power and concentration, their minerality and length. They are varied and very easy to match with fish and shellfish, white meat or asian food."

"The Vintage Champagne is broad and mouthfilling. It has plenty of body, power, minerality and length (2004: 4 stars). Diebolt-Vallois champagnes age remarkably well, with older vintages being the proof of that (1976: 4 stars). The Brut Prestige Blanc de Blancs is powerful, concentrated, with fruit that is both intense and long lasting (4 stars). The Champagne Fleur de Passion is concentrated, clean, mouthfilling, long and persistant, this blend has great potential (2005: 4 stars). The Brut Rosé: its concentrated, powerful, broad and fruit forward mouth makes it an excellent aperitif champagne which can also accompany grilled meats or fish as well as cheese (3 stars)."

CHAMPAGNE (Gerhard Eichelmann) :

The latest (october 2012) german edition of the Gerhard Eichelmann's "Champagne" book includes the most recent tasting notes.

For the Fleur de Passion champagne :
> Fleur de Passion 2004 : 5 stars
> Fleur de Passion 2005 : 5 stars

EXCLUSIF CHAMPAGNE 2013 GUIDE (Jean-Michel Garnier)

Champagne Prestige : ** Editor's choice ** -« Intense nose, with good minerality, and the hints of white flowers give elegance. The mouth is superbly balanced, with straightforward scents of dried fruits and citrus. Plenty of power present in the background. A fresh and warm finish of great length."

Champagne Fleur de Passion 2005 : ** Editor's choice ** - "A distinguished and elegant nose, marked by freshness and finesse, hints of white flowers join scents of fresh white stone fruit. The mouth has extraordinary balance. Concentrated, intense and fresh, the wine shows plenty of fruit with hints of citrus complementing the white stone fruit. The texture is delicate yet mouthfilling. Everything is as it should be. A magnificently successful wine."

2012 GAULT MILLAU WINE GUIDE
Champagne Diebolt-Vallois: Estate awarded 6 stars out of 7 (= "Exceptional production")

Champagne Fleur de Passion 2004: 19 /20 - “As perfect as ever, Fleur de Passion is a blanc de blancs champagne with a beautifully expressive nose showing cool white flowers, and bready, vanilla and toasted hints. The mouth is elegant, lively and long, with a touch of minerality, fruit and elegance.”

Champagne Prestige: 18.5 /20 - “An admirable champagne, deploying expressive citrus aromas with white fruit and hints of aniseed, hedgerow flowers and spice. The mouth is elegant, and magnificently structured . The finish is cool, long and powerful.”

Champagne Millésimé 2005 : 18 /20 - “This 2005 is a complex champagne offering yellow and white stone fruit on the nose, together with grassy and toasted hints. In the mouth the balance is subtle; there is freshness, finesse, volume and elegance, all with a very persistent mineral finish.”

Champagne Millésimé 2004 : 18 /20 - “A perfectly structured champagne. On the mouth there is a fine mousse, it is delicate, rounded, broad and pure, yet powerful and lively, all in the most perfect balance.”

Champagne Millésimé 1999 : 18 /20 -“Now here's a champagne with a rich expression of fruit between tropical and yellow stone fruit with hints of new mown hay, butter and minerals. In the mouth it is seductive, rich and pure, fresh, charming and beautifully long.”

Champagne Blanc de Blancs: 17.5 /20 - “A tasty distinguished champagne, that is broad and mouth-filling, with a nose scented with citrus, white fruits and with floral hints and a touch of minerality and spice. In the mouth, there's breadth, finesse, vivacity and a long finish of green apples.”

Rosé Champagne: 16.5 /20 - “This is a refreshing and precise champagne with scents of ripe red shrub fruits, raspberries and pomegranates, with floral hints. On the mouth, the house style comes through in finesse, freshness, vivacity and fruit.”