2016 Blanc de Blancs La Haute Lemblé

Cédric Bouchard’s 2016s are stellar. The wines are remarkable for their finesse, energy and delineation. Frost was not an issue, while the rest of the year was relatively uneventful. That effortless grace is evident in stunning Champagnes that dazzle throughout this range. As always, the wines are done in steel and bottled with no dosage, but they are never stark or austere. Meticulous work in the vineyards yields Champagnes with tremendous natural depth and intensity. Bouchard is famously stringent with his selections. There is no Creux d'Enfer Rosé in 2016. “I was not happy with the quality of the fruit in the vineyard. For me, its either yes or no. There is no ‘maybe’ in my vocabulary,” he told me.