September 16, 2025
A trip to the Champagne region wouldn’t be complete without a visit to some grower champagne houses. Here are some of our recommendations. Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Millesime de Collection Vieilles Vignes de Chardonnay 2005
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The Gimonnet family can be traced back to 1750 growing vines around the village of Cuis, south of Epernay, but it was between the wars that Pierre Gimonnet set up the winery that allowed him to become a grower-producer, specialising in Blanc de Blancs. Pierre Gimonnet was succeeded by his son Michel. Michel’s understanding of terroir led him to acquire parcels beyond Cuis and into neighbouring Cramant and Chouilly. Olivier and Didier worked with their father Michel for a decade until his retirement in 1996 (he died in 2008), and have continued, and improved on, his work for over 20 years. His sons have continued this principle, expanding into Oger in 2005 and as far south as Vertus in 2008. The House now has 40 separate parcels across 28 hectares – 16ha of Premier Cru and 12ha of Grand Cru – all in the Côte des Blancs. At harvest time, grapes are handpicked, traditionally pressed and then vinified in small batches, parcel by parcel, in 25 to 125 hectalitre tanks to create the Gimonnet champagne. Today they produce 250,000 bottles.
The Millesime de Collection 2005 is the vintage blend from Pierre Gimmonet, a Blanc de Blancs from three Côte des Blancs villages, Cramant, Chouilly and Cuis. Much of the fruit is from very old vines, most of the Cramant vineyards were planted in 1911 and 1913 and Chouilly's renowned vineyard of Montaigu was planted in 1951. This is a special blend only available in magnums with just 4897 made.
Weather: The 2005 vintage was a warm weather year without complications. An early heatwave in June encouraged flowering, followed by moderate rainfall throughout summer and another heatwave in early September. The heat and rain developed berries rich in sugar and with high acidity levels, rendering 2005 an ideal year to blend a vintage.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 57% Cramant Grand Cru, 30% Chouilly Grand Cru & 13% Cuis 1er Cru
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 10 years
Disgorged: 20th September 2017
Dosage: 4 g/l
Pressure: 5.5 bars
Production: 4,897 magnums
Drink: Now to 2030
Tasting Note: Very fresh with bundles of lemon and lime and beautiful chalky character. The low dosage makes it extra brut but that doesn’t come across as it has so much fruit and ripeness mixed with lees character that builds up to some light custard layering. This feels young and vibrant with an exciting future. This is a good example showing how good one grape variety can be in a region.
The Millesime de Collection 2005 is the vintage blend from Pierre Gimmonet, a Blanc de Blancs from three Côte des Blancs villages, Cramant, Chouilly and Cuis. Much of the fruit is from very old vines, most of the Cramant vineyards were planted in 1911 and 1913 and Chouilly's renowned vineyard of Montaigu was planted in 1951. This is a special blend only available in magnums with just 4897 made.
Weather: The 2005 vintage was a warm weather year without complications. An early heatwave in June encouraged flowering, followed by moderate rainfall throughout summer and another heatwave in early September. The heat and rain developed berries rich in sugar and with high acidity levels, rendering 2005 an ideal year to blend a vintage.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 57% Cramant Grand Cru, 30% Chouilly Grand Cru & 13% Cuis 1er Cru
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 10 years
Disgorged: 20th September 2017
Dosage: 4 g/l
Pressure: 5.5 bars
Production: 4,897 magnums
Drink: Now to 2030
Tasting Note: Very fresh with bundles of lemon and lime and beautiful chalky character. The low dosage makes it extra brut but that doesn’t come across as it has so much fruit and ripeness mixed with lees character that builds up to some light custard layering. This feels young and vibrant with an exciting future. This is a good example showing how good one grape variety can be in a region.
