It is not often you equate champagne with value. One of the great producers that also offers insanely good value, Champagne Delamotte is located in the heart of the Cote de Blancs and is the sister winery of famed house Champagne Salon. This historic house dates back to the 1760s and sources from some of the great vineyards in Champagne, including those located in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize and Oger, as well as the Cote des Blancs, marvelously highlight world class Chardonnay. I’ve been enchanted by these wines for many years. Didier Depond serves as general manager for Delamotte as well as for Salon. Like Salon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay grapes for Delamotte are sourced from Grand Cru-rated vineyards. The Delamotte range of wines offers more approachability, than those made at Salon — but also share some really good cellaring potential.
I adored all of the new releases by Delamotte including their gorgeous NV ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne (OB, 93) which is dense and plush with plenty of weight and gorgeous chalky mineral tones. I was enamored by the sinfully good 2014 Delamotte ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne (OB, 95) which is a rich and layered style that is built for aging. Find out more about this historic Champagne house at https://www.champagne-delamotte.com/en/ Here are the gorgeous new wines by Champagne Delamotte.
NV Delamotte Brut Champagne- This great NV Brut was vilified in stainless steel and given 8G/L dosage as the base comes from the 2017 vintage (85%). Disgorged in early 2021, this unveils biscuit tones alongside baked apple and saline drenched pear. The palate shows a soft mousse with a plush mouthfeel. Plenty of orchard and citrus fruits combine with stony minerals on the palate. Drink 2022-2028- 92
NV Delamotte Rose Champagne- Unlike the NV Brut, the NV Rose utilizes the 2018 vintage as a base which is done to preserve more freshness, given 7G/L dosage. Made from 80% Pinot Noir with 20% Chardonnay (from Le Mesnil), this shows off hazelnut tones alongside very pretty red fruits and shades of blood orange zest. The palate is very refined and delicate, with red raspberry alongside wet stone and salty undercurrents. Drink 2022-2029- 92
NV Delamotte ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne- This 100% Chardonnay was sourced from four villages with a base from the 2016 vintage, with the remainder from the 2014 and 2015 vintages. Vinified in stainless steel, this then was aged for four years and was given 7G/L. Salted nuts with brioche and shades of Japanese pear all combine aromatically. The palate is soft and round with a seamless texture and lengthy chalky finish. This is remarkably good for the price. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2014 Delamotte ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Champagne- The 2014 ‘Blanc de Blancs’ by Delamotte is a broad-shouldered Chardonnay wine, as this was not made in the 2013 vintage. Disgorged in June 2021, with 6.5G/L, the wine sourced from six villages in the Cote de Blancs. Once on the nose this takes on layers of marzipan with gooseberry, green papaya and suggestions of pastry crust. The combination of weight and tension here is really exceptional, as this seamlessly glides across the mid-palate. Bright and deeply concentrated, this generous style of Blanc de Blancs will surely live on for another fifteen years or more. Drink 2022-2038- 95