Some Champagnes command attention because of their large marketing budgets and ornate labels. Others earn it because of what's in the bottle. Geoffroy's Expression Premier Cru Brut falls squarely into the second camp.
Geoffroy has long been one of those insider favorites. Ask a wine professional where they spend their money on Champagne, and Geoffroy comes up regularly. Powerful yet beautifully balanced, Wine Spectator summed it up perfectly, saying this "offers a rich, tightly meshed range of ripe black cherry, preserved lemon, toasted brioche, smoke and pastry cream flavors." Sounds pretty good, wouldn't you agree?
The Geoffroy family farms Premier Cru vineyards in Cumières, one of the finest villages in the Vallée de la Marne. Expression is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 20% Meunier, with added depth and complexity from the family's perpetual reserve, a solera-inspired system of older wines that's been refreshed with each new vintage for decades. The result is a remarkably layered and consistent Champagne that punches well above its price.
I got into a bottle of this last Saturday, and it was a joyful experience. What I love most about Expression is the balance it strikes between richness and freshness.
Notes of ripe apple, pear, citrus zest, toasted brioche, roasted almond, white flowers, and chalky minerality unfold with each sip, supported by a wonderfully fine mousse and a long, chalky finish.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
