Wine Critic
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Gonet-Medeville Coteaux Champenois Grand Cru Ambonnay Cuvee Athenais 2022
Gonet‑Médeville Coteaux Champenois Grand Cru Ambonnay Cuvée Athénaïs 2022 is a rare still red Pinot Noir from over 100‑year‑old vines on the chalky slopes of Ambonnay Grand Cru, crafted in tiny quantities and aged 18 months in oak (30% new).
Critic tasting note: (2022 vintage)
"Crushed chalk with some dried strawberries and dark cherries with walnut and bush aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, this has firm tannins and a racy finish. Refined yet flavorful. Very gamay-like. Typical Coteaux Champenois. Drink now." - James Suckling
Tasting profile
The wine is deep ruby, with an intense nose of perfectly ripe summer berries, especially cherry and raspberry, wrapped in creamy vanilla and subtle sweet‑spice notes. The palate is rich, rounded and mouth‑filling yet fresh, with juicy red fruit, fine tannins and a long, seductive finish that makes it feel almost like a dry “dessert in a bottle.”
Key traits
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Grape & terroir: 100% Pinot Noir from a 0.33‑ha parcel planted in 1905 on the steepest chalk slope in Ambonnay Grand Cru.
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Winemaking: Hand‑harvested, fully destemmed, spontaneous malo and élevage in oak barrels for 18 months, about one‑third new wood.
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Character & pairings: Generous, hedonistic, very young but already enjoyable; ideal with quail, veal or roasted poultry, and a fascinating reference for the still‑red side of Champagne.
