Champagne Valentin Leflaive - CV 18 3.0 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs

If Leflaive sounds familiar, you're certainly correct, as the family has been growing and making wine in nearby Puligny-Montrachet since 1580. Olivier Leflaive began this new project in Champagne, named for his young son Valentin, in 2015. The CV refers to the GC of Cramant (21%) and the 1er Cru of Vertus (52%), from base year 2018 (the label's 18) and 56%(!) reserve wines. The 40ish year old vines were fermented in stainless, and my bottle was disgorged in March 2023 with 3 g/L (the 3.0) on the label. Almond patisserie, lemon curd, and green apple lead to a meringue core, and carry through a bitter pithy lemon lattice bracketing the chalky finish. As with all there wines, there is a lovely completeness to the whole, with nothing elbowing out, and a mellow meringue to centre. Super smart, and absolutely a producer to note. (gismondionwine.com)