Special Club Cuis 1er Cru: a new era of Pierre Gimmonet & Fils

Cuis, Pierre Gimmonet, Spécial Club
December 11, 2023

Björnstierne Antonsson

In the heart of the Côte des Blancs, the emblematic garden of the Gimmonet family, surrounds the family home in Cuis. [read the full champagne story]

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

A jewel spanning 4.35 hectares, this exceptional plot stands as a testament to the family’s winemaking heritage, giving life to a truly unique creation – the Special Club Cuis 1er Cru 2018 vintage from Champagne Pierre Gimmonet & Fils. This marks the inaugural single-terroir vintage emerging from the annals of the family’s historic vineyard.

[read the technical sheet – Special Club Cuis 1er Cru 2018 ]

The genesis of the Côte des Blancs in Cuis dates back to 1927 when it was initially planted, and its legacy was carefully perpetuated through meticulous replanting phases spanning from 1968 to 1991. For the Croix Blanche, the vines are nurtured with profound reverence for the living, incorporating innovative agricultural practices. While the principles of organic cultivation have been embraced for years, official certification is not actively pursued. In select years, the vineyard undergoes green harvests. Moving to the Roualles plot, situated on the elevated terrain of the village and equally cherished by the Gimmonet family, its distinct typicity is attributed to the limestone scree soil. The Roualles grapes are occasionally harvested up to 10 days after the official conclusion of the harvest.

Following the bountiful 2028 harvest, a daring venture began to take shape – the vinification of their premier single-terroir vintage for this sun-kissed year. The radiant 2018 vintage ushers in new horizons for both Croix Blanche and Roualles, prompting the Gimmonet brothers to reevaluate their approach to the Cuis vineyard. This audacious step marks a pivotal moment in the family’s winemaking journey, promising a vintage that encapsulates the essence of their historic terroir.

Pierre Gimonnet & Fils

★★★★

When you travel through the Côte des Blancs you can see Gimonnet’s house just by the road. It’s easy to drop in spontaneously and maybe even have an improvised tasting. The Gimonnet family has lived in the village of Cuis since the middle of the 17th century, and began to bottle wines under their own label in the early 20th century. Gimonnet owns twenty-eight hectares of Chardonnay in Cuis, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger and Vertus.

The firm creates very well-made, low-priced Blanc de Blancs. They own two plots in Cramant with vines planted in 1911! The vintage will start early at Gimonnet, and yet, it will be picked very ripe – at an average of 11˚ potential alcohol, with the oldest parcels picked closer to 12°. In the winery, the fermentations are done in stainless and carried out in small tanks to enable parcel-by-parcel vinification. Unfortunately, Didier and Olivier Gimonnet didn’t like mono-cru Champagne, which means that their Special Club is derived from this Cramant wine – but lightened up by tart, fresh Cuis. Today they have changed direction and produce two fantastick Special Club from Chouilly and Cramnat. Gimonnet know exactly what they want to do with their Champagnes, and they love young, fresh and dry Champagne that has gone through malolactic fermentation.

Just in time for the Millennium, they introduced their finest wine – Gimonnet Collection – but only in magnum, of course. Larmandier in Cramant is made by Gimonnet, and a few wines are identical, even if Larmandier Special Club is richer in style, with 100 percent Cramant. The price is far lower than the big companies’ nonvintage champagnes, despite the quality being higher.