| Review: |
"The 2018 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs L'Arbre is such a pleasure to taste. Creamy and ample in the glass, the 2018 offers a compelling mix of Meunier richness and brighter, more saline accents that serve as an attractive counterpoint. Spice, dried pear, chamomile, dried flowers and ginger build nicely with time in the glass, leading to a vibrant, bracing finish. These are the first wines I have tasted from Vincent Cuillier, and they are impressive. Cuillier is located in Pouillon, just a bit north of Reims. The 4.5 hectares of vines are scattered across Pouillon and nearby Trigny and Chenay. Cuillier is among the young growers focused not just on farming and wine, but on maintaining a healthy overall ecosystem in which trees and other plants are part of the agricultural landscape. The three wines I tasted for this report are all single-parcel Champagnes. L’Arbre is done in tank, while Chemin des Rois and Blanc de Sable are aged in neutral oak. All of the wines are bottled with no dosage. I found the 2019s a bit more reticent than the 2018s, but that could be an issue of post-disgorgement time. Cuillier is an estate to watch – that much is clear." |