Vilmart & Cie

Grand Cellier 1er Cru Champagne Blend

9.230 ratings
9.210 pro ratings
Rilly-La-Montagne, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
Champagne Blend
Squash & Root Vegetables, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Cake & Cream, Soft Cheese, Hard Cheese, Salads & Greens, Salami & Prosciutto, Pork, Fish, Chicken, Duck, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Nuts & Seeds, Fruit & Berries, Beans & Peas, Exotic Spices, Turkey, Pungent Cheese, Shellfish, Oyster
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I have really come to embrace this producer since my October 22 visit to the property. Beautiful champagne that is generally fermented in neutral small & large barrels/vats.

Starts w/ lemon, pineapple, lime, kiwi, white stone fruits, green apple, touch of tangerine & grapefruit w/ light sprinkle of sugar, cream, light white spice, crushed limestone w/ chalk, sea fossils, saline, light yeastiness, bread dough, sprinkle of dry herbs, spring flowers, jasmine, spring flowers & a touch of yellow lilies, nice crisp acidity with a structured backbone, nice tension, very well balanced and an elegant polished finish that lasts just under 90 seconds.

I have really come to embrace this producer since my October 22 visit to the property. Beautiful champagne that is generally fermented in neutral small & large barrels/vats.

Starts w/ lemon, pineapple, lime, kiwi, white stone fruits, green apple, touch of tangerine & grapefruit w/ light sprinkle of sugar, cream, light white spice, crushed limestone w/ chalk, sea fossils, saline, light yeastiness, bread dough, sprinkle of dry herbs, spring flowers, jasmine, spring flowers & a touch of yellow lilies, nice crisp acidity with a structured backbone, nice tension, very well balanced and an elegant polished finish that lasts just under 90 seconds.

Jun 1st, 2024
web bond

Dec. 2018 disgorgement

Dec. 2018 disgorgement

Mar 31st, 2022
Gregory Fulchiero

Chrisp green apple, pear and a beautiful chalky overtone.

Chrisp green apple, pear and a beautiful chalky overtone.

Jan 16th, 2021
Josh Morgenthau

Wow. The seaside. Walnut. Salty, yeasty, citrusy, expansive, herbal smell. Lively bubbles, great streak of acid. Lacks fruit, all mineral. But really good.

Wow. The seaside. Walnut. Salty, yeasty, citrusy, expansive, herbal smell. Lively bubbles, great streak of acid. Lacks fruit, all mineral. But really good.

Aug 14th, 2020
Shay A
9.2

In the name of science, a few champagnes/sparkling wines were sampled today in an effort to help a friend for comparative research reasons. Hard way to spend a Monday...

For me, this was opposite end of the spectrum vs the Krug. More “reductive” in style with the bruised fruits & matchstick initially but this became a bit more fleshy after some time open and revealed more underripe citrus, lemon-lime candy and crushed rock. Thanks
@Weston Eidson

In the name of science, a few champagnes/sparkling wines were sampled today in an effort to help a friend for comparative research reasons. Hard way to spend a Monday...

For me, this was opposite end of the spectrum vs the Krug. More “reductive” in style with the bruised fruits & matchstick initially but this became a bit more fleshy after some time open and revealed more underripe citrus, lemon-lime candy and crushed rock. Thanks
@Weston Eidson

Feb 19th, 2019
Julia Geisler

Merry Christmas! 😍

Feb 22 disg

Merry Christmas! 😍

Feb 22 disg

Dec 25th, 2023
Brendan Baker

Simone’s first Xmas 🎄 (with Champagne for the adults) 🍾

Simone’s first Xmas 🎄 (with Champagne for the adults) 🍾

Dec 25th, 2022
Brendan Baker

Disgorged June ‘17… these just keep getting better with more bottle age 🥰🥂

Disgorged June ‘17… these just keep getting better with more bottle age 🥰🥂

Sep 3rd, 2022
Willie Carter

Vilmart & Cie, always a favorite amongst the champagne faithful for a number of reasons, the leading one being the impeccable quality.

A clear pale gold robe. Teeny tiny persistent bubbles and terrific cream. The bouquet is highly evocative and the definition of fresh. Showing honey and white flowers up front and enswathed in citrus. Apricots and pineapples with peaches and the barest expression of banana. Quite posh and lovely.

Precision is the word of the day when dealing with these Vilmart champagnes. 70/30 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Rilly-la-Montagne from 30 year old vines. Aged 10 months in large oak casks and disgorged in September of 2018 with no malolactic fermentation. Just a touch of sweetness with a dosage of 8 g/l but you won’t even notice that as it gets air and evolves in the glass. Very lithe and graceful with toned down acidity and wonderful tension.

The palate is focused and precise, even on the second day. The dried citrus on the tongue is intense and alive. Mangoes and tangerines. Minerality and crisp apples truly shine. Long finish with a bite of spice and smoke. These are terrific and stately champagnes and I just keep going back to them over and over. For a good reason.

Vilmart & Cie, always a favorite amongst the champagne faithful for a number of reasons, the leading one being the impeccable quality.

A clear pale gold robe. Teeny tiny persistent bubbles and terrific cream. The bouquet is highly evocative and the definition of fresh. Showing honey and white flowers up front and enswathed in citrus. Apricots and pineapples with peaches and the barest expression of banana. Quite posh and lovely.

Precision is the word of the day when dealing with these Vilmart champagnes. 70/30 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Rilly-la-Montagne from 30 year old vines. Aged 10 months in large oak casks and disgorged in September of 2018 with no malolactic fermentation. Just a touch of sweetness with a dosage of 8 g/l but you won’t even notice that as it gets air and evolves in the glass. Very lithe and graceful with toned down acidity and wonderful tension.

The palate is focused and precise, even on the second day. The dried citrus on the tongue is intense and alive. Mangoes and tangerines. Minerality and crisp apples truly shine. Long finish with a bite of spice and smoke. These are terrific and stately champagnes and I just keep going back to them over and over. For a good reason.

Sep 28th, 2021
Mark S.

Fruity aroma. Fruits liquor like, sour, pear, nuts, tasty. Comfortable bubble stimulation makes me feel fresh. @2050, domaine -, 210520-210613

Fruity aroma. Fruits liquor like, sour, pear, nuts, tasty. Comfortable bubble stimulation makes me feel fresh. @2050, domaine -, 210520-210613

May 19th, 2021