Telmont : Vinotheque 1996

A remarkable old vintage champagne with ideal balance sweetness/acidity

The estate

Founded in 1912 by the Lhôpital family, the Telmont Champagne House benefited from a succession of visionary generations who all shared a passion for the terroirs of Champagne. In 2020, the French group, Rémy Cointreau, joined the Telmont adventure and the partners share a common ambition that is to preserve the terroirs by practicing organic methods and consolidating a large-scale sustainable project. It is indeed the house’s innovative approach that led Leonardo DiCaprio to join Telmont as a shareholder. Bertrand Lhôpital remains both the Cellar Master and vineyard manager and thus guarantees the quality of centuries’ worth of family know-how.

The vineyard

Maison Telmont spreads across 24.5 hectares in Damery, near Épernay in the Champagne region. Since 2017, some of the Maison Telmont parcels are certified in organic farming. In 2022, the Telmont Champagne House will practice organic farming methods on half of its land.

The wine

Vinothèque 1996 gathers all the characteristics of an exceptional old vintage Champagne. Thanks to ideal climatic conditions with warm days, cool nights and a long lasting summer, the quality was impressive. The ideal balance between sweetness and acidity reveal ripe mango and nuts on the nose, and on the palate, aromas of raspberry compote.

Vinification and aging

Vinothèque 1996 follows Champagne’s usual vinification process in stainless steel vats and with no malolactic fermentation. Riddling was made by hand. This champagne was disgorged in 2021, following a 25-year aging period in underground cellars.

The dosage of this champagne is 7.6 grams/litre.

The blend

Chardonnay (40%) and Pinot Meunier (60%).