Pierre Gimonnet et Fils has long been revered for their crystalline expressions of Chardonnay, crafting wines that highlight the purity and precision of the Côte des Blancs. The Oenophile series represents their most unadulterated vision, produced without dosage to fully showcase the terroir and structure of each vintage. The 2008 edition comes from Premier Cru vineyards in Cuis, along with select Grand Cru parcels in Cramant and Chouilly, where old vines rooted in chalky soils lend remarkable depth and tension. Fermented and aged in stainless steel to preserve freshness, this cuvée spent over a decade on the lees before disgorgement, allowing the natural complexity of the vintage to shine without the influence of added sugar.
The 2008 vintage was a benchmark year in Champagne, celebrated for its high acidity, remarkable longevity, and slow-developing complexity. Oenophile 2008 is an archetype of that structured, age-worthy style, offering an intense bouquet of Meyer lemon, green apple, and crushed seashells, interwoven with notes of toasted hazelnuts and white flowers. The palate is electric—tense and mineral-driven, with flavors of citrus zest, chalk, and brioche unfolding over a chiseled frame. The wine’s extended lees aging adds a whisper of richness, but the overall impression is one of precision and purity, finishing with an almost saline persistence that lingers long after each sip.
This is a Champagne for purists—focused, linear, and built to evolve beautifully with time in the glass or cellar. Its razor-sharp acidity and mineral core make it an ideal match for oysters, sea urchin, or crudo, but it also has the structure to stand up to dishes like Dover sole meunière or aged Comté. A stunning expression of both Gimonnet’s meticulous winemaking and the legendary 2008 vintage, Oenophile is a must-have for lovers of uncompromising, terroir-driven Blanc de Blancs.
