### Cellar Favorite: 

### Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée

### 2006 & 2003

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | APRIL 14, 2025

Vilmart’s Coeur de Cuvée is one of the most consistently outstanding wines in Champagne because of how well it shows in both strong and challenging years. A blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, Coeur de Cuvée emerges from 60+ year-old vines in the Blanches Voies lieu-dit in Rilly-la-Montagne. It is made from only the central part of cuvée (hence its name), where depth and textural finesse are at their most intense. Vinification and aging are done in 228-liter French oak barriques, with blocked malolactic fermentation. I tasted the 2006 and 2003, both original disgorgements, with Laurent and Thomas Champs during a recent visit to Vilmart in March 2025. I can’t say I was surprised by how the wines age, as I have tasted more than enough Vilmart Champagnes to have a clear idea of how enjoyable they are at this stage. The 2006 and 2003 are peaking today, making them fine choices for readers who enjoy mature Champagne.

![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1744640181415-CF_Apr142025.jpg)

The **2006 Brut Coeur de Cuvée Oenothèque** is exceptionally beautiful. Rich and vivid in the glass, with magnificent balance, the 2006 is in fine shape today. Candied lemon peel, mint, marzipan, white pepper, baked apple tart and light tropical notes are so vivid in the glass. Still quite deep and layered, the 2006 will drink well for at least another handful of years. What a gorgeous Champagne it is. Disgorged: July 2013. **95** /2025-2030

The **2003 Brut Coeur de Cuvée Oenothèque** is even more surprising than the 2006 tasted alongside it. The first impression is one of a lighter year relative to 2006, but with age it is harder to tell how much of that is the vintage and how much is simply the passage of time. I was certainly not expecting this to be 2003. Medium in body and fresh, the 2003 is exquisite. It does not have the mid-palate resonance of the very best years, especially at this age, but it has aged impeccably and remains quite fresh. Pear, spice and floral overtones grace this very pretty, expressive Coeur de Cuvée. Spring frost and then brutally hot, dry weather in summer reduced yields by nearly 50%, resulting in a Champagne with very low acidity. Even so, the 2003 aged beautifully. I don't see it improving much from here, however. Any remaining bottles need to be finished. Disgorged: July 2010. **93** /2025-2028

_© 2025, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or redistributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright, but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism._



Cellar Favorite: Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée 2006 & 2003

Cellar Favorite: Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée 2006 & 2003 (Apr 2025)

ConstantScore(-article_id:{312 381 422 466 735 1092 1114 1146 1208 1209 1210 1231 1235 1241 1242 1245 1249 1258 1261 1276 1283 1298 1302 1312 1321 1325 1338 1601 1734 1980 1998 2164 2193 2198 2268 2425 2529 2566 2825 2994 3120 3140 3371 3977 4341} #producer.id:3375 #article_id:[4435 TO 4435])

DocValuesFieldExistsQuery [field=_primary_term]

Vilmart & Cie

Content

Engage

Vinous

Social