NV Varnier Fanniere Cuvee de Jean Fanniere Origine
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Tasting Notes
The bright golden colored NV Cuvée Jean Fannière Origine Extra Brut (LJF013), sourced from 60-year-old Chardonnay vines in Cramant Grand Cru, is a classy aperitif, or fish and seafood fizz for ambitious Champagne lovers. After five years on the lees, this Extra Brut (dosage was three grams) offers a very clear and attractively aromatic, but also pure, complex and refreshing mineral bouquet; it shows aromas of lemon and pineapples mixed with chalky and iodine flavors. Full-bodied and dry on the palate, this is a serious, expressive and tension-filled Champagne with a coolish and refreshing character. It has lots of grip in the stimulatingly mineral finish. There are flavors of citrus fruits with the dust of crushed stones, whereas the oysters yet have to be served. It has a silky texture due to the very fine bubbles.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
The Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The bright golden colored NV Cuvée Jean Fannière Origine Extra Brut (LJF013), sourced from 60-year-old Chardonnay vines in Cramant Grand Cru, is a classy aperitif, or fish and seafood fizz for ambitious Champagne lovers. After five years on the lees, this Extra Brut (dosage was three grams) offers a very clear and attractively aromatic, but also pure, complex and refreshing mineral bouquet; it shows aromas of lemon and pineapples mixed with chalky and iodine flavors. Full-bodied and dry on the palate, this is a serious, expressive and tension-filled Champagne with a coolish and refreshing character. It has lots of grip in the stimulatingly mineral finish. There are flavors of citrus fruits with the dust of crushed stones, whereas the oysters yet have to be served. It has a silky texture due to the very fine bubbles.<br><br>Based in Avize (Côte des Blancs), Denis Varnier produces an excellent range of highly elegant, very well focused and fresh, yet perfectly balanced and round, non-oaked Champagnes. These are produced not in the shadow, but virtually on eye level with his widely adored neighbors Anselme Selosse and Erick de Sousa. Varnier-Fannière is a small property, but with excellent parcels adding up to 30,000 Chardonnay vine stocks or four-hectare grands crus sites, most of them located in the villages of Cramant and Oger. Denis' single vineyard cuvée, St-Denis from Avize, is impressive, but I prefer the silky textured Cuvée Jean Fannière due to its freshness, finesse and elegance. Readers should also taste the Brut Rosé. Jun 2016, www.robertparker.com, Drink: 2016-2026
