Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Cuvee Cuis 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs, Champagne

In these days of sharply rising prices, this family-run house offers great value thanks to its magnificent chardonnay vineyards. This is Gimmonet's entry-point wine, the bouquet of white flowers/apple blossom, the palate with elegance and balance, fruit finish fresh thanks to the modest dosage of 5.5g/l.

94 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au

Cuis; 9.3% 2014, 8.4% 2013, 6.3% 2012, 7% 2011, 2% 2010; reserves are the previous year’s bend, aged in magnum to preserve freshness and the autolytic complexity of maturity, without the oxidation of ageing in tank; aged 2 years on lees; 5.5g/L dosage; 

Didier Gimonnet’s aspiration for his entry non-vintage is a cuvée with attack on the front, roundness in the middle and crispness on the end. This cuvée is his first priority. ‘I can only produce other cuvées if I take what I need for the non-vintage first,’ he says.

Gimonnet’s Cuis is the quintessential apéritif, and one of the most pristine champagnes for its price. The north-facing elegance of this bright premier cru infuses freshness and purity of lemon, grapefruit and crunchy nashi pear. The ripe and structured 2015 base adds a hint of pineapple core and lends its grip of phenolic mouthfeel, yet this has been well moderated by Gimonnet’s precision engineering, to let the fine salt chalk minerality of the village sing in harmony with crystalline acidity. Bottle age has built seamless texture without yet contributing secondary complexity, besides a fleeting glimpse of brioche. Dosage is well integrated with vibrant acidity, laying out a tense, bright and long finish. As ever, this is signature Cuis, classic Gimonnet and great value champagne.

91 points Tyson Stelzer The Champagne Guide 2020-2021