GONET-MÉDEVILLE

2009 Théophile Rosé Extra Brut Grand Cru

Grapes Pinot Noir
Colour Rosé
Origin France, Champagne
Classification Grand Cru
ABV 12.5%

60% Chardonnay, 37% Pinot Noir, 3% red wine. A blend of two grands crus: Chardonnay from Ambonnay and Pinot from Le Mesnil. Vinified in old oak casks, bottled after seven months, eight years sur lattes. 900 bottles.
Smells like freshly made pancakes with the teensiest daub of homemade apricot jam. Absolutely dazzling! I swallowed. There is a sweetness, that leans more towards confit fruit than fresh fruit, more fruit than honey, but it nudges at the edges of caramel. Quite extraordinary. A shape shifter. One moment toasty and a little aloof, the next diving in with a succulent kiss and almost overwhelming generosity. Just head-over-heels gorgeous. And a mouth-filling finish that leaves a dab of baharat-spiced nut butter in its wake. It felt wickedly wasteful and arrogant to spit this wine out. Outstanding.
Drinking range: 2023 - 2035 Rating: 18.5 Tamlyn Currin - www.JancisRobinson.com (Jun 2023)


Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.

Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.


Cuvée Théophile is what Xavier calls the blend of his two single varietal Grand Crus, which he only does when he thinks the vintage merits it. 2009 is the first time they have made a Theophile Rosé. 2g/l dosage. Now being from the ripe 2009 vintage you might expect this to be on the heavy side, but of course it isn't; bright and tart and rich all at once, with flavours of red fruit exalted by lemony freshness. Totally gourmand.L&S (Jul 2018)

Aromatic tea rose and spice notes accent the pure fruit flavors of white cherry and apricot in this elegant rosé Champagne, which is lightly mouthwatering and balanced, with hints of smoke, mineral, saffron and orange zest on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2029. Drinking range: 2020 - 2029 Rating: 93 Alison Napjus, The Wine Spectator (Sept 2020)

Champagne Gonet-Médeville

Xavier has twelve hectares in total, spread across eight villages. There are three Grands Crus, Le Mesnil sur Oger, Oger and Ambonnay, as well as five Premiers Crus, Mareuil sur Ay, Bisseuil (where he has a substantial 4.8 hectare plot), Billy Le Grand, Trépail and Vaudemange.

In 1996 Xavier met Julie Médeville (of the Bordeaux family which owns the Graves Château Respide Médeville and the Sauternes Château Gilette) at a tasting in Reims, and they married the following year. Xavier set out on a path to quality from the moment he was in charge in 2000, and is keen to emphasise what he does and does not do. "One press makes nine barrels - and it all goes into barrel, all divided according to the parcels it comes from.", he says, "no malo, no chaptalisation, no filtration, and the wines are left in barrel to stabilise. The red wines are properly red. The non-vintages are around 70-80% of the current year, with up to 30% reserves, normally just 20% of the previous year and 10% of the year before that."

Our first visit here was a joy, seeing the vineyard in Bisseuil, which is all in one block, on a sunny south-facing slope, which is perfect for achieving full ripeness. The tasting after so much anticipation is always an anxious moment on both sides, but the 'Tradition' does not let him down - indeed it sets the bar very high - simply delicious, and we both know that we are on the right track. The Rosé both surprises and delights because it is so different - almost all Chardonnay except the the red used for colour, it is a sprightly apéritif rosé. The micro-cuvées that make up the rest of the range are the stuff of future legend, rare, but worth seeking out.

"What made me want to make Champagne was wines from '29, '45, '55, '59, '61, '64 - I want to make wines like that", says Xavier. You need have no fear of cellaring these wines to see how they evolve, however delicious they are now.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
  • For full delivery details see our Delivery page.
  • We offer free nationwide* delivery for all orders over £150 with our own vans. We also offer an express delivery service for an additional charge.
  • Order & Collect from any of our 5 London shops. Order by Midnight for collection the next working day from 11am.
  • Private wine storage: we offer a full In Bond and Duty Paid private wine storage service - find out more here.

ORDER     COLLECT

ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS