Personal advice
These bottles were disgorged in April 2022 and therefore spent five years longer on the lees than the regular cuvée – in the case of some late-disgorged variants, up to eight extra years. This results in even greater complexity and harmony. The palate is elegant with racy freshness, impressive depth, an extremely fine mousse, very long finish and mineral precision. The Fleur de Passion 2008 is only at the beginning of its drinking window and still has a great future ahead.
The Blanc de Blancs is vinified without malolactic fermentation in used oak barrels – a tribute to the traditional Champagne production method that Jacques Diebolt learned from his grandfather starting in 1953. The oak influence remains discreet (noticeably subtler than with Selosse), and the wine develops very slowly and elegantly.
2008 is considered one of the truly great classic Champagne vintages: a cool, long growing season with high acidity, perfect structure and enormous aging potential. Harvest took place relatively late, resulting in concentrated, fresh and highly mineral wines. Many houses (including Diebolt-Vallois) regard 2008 as one of the best vintages of recent decades – perfectly suited for extended lees aging as seen in Fleur de Passion.
The 2008 Fleur de Passion Late Disgorgement 2022 is only at the very beginning of its journey. The additional lees time has made it more complex and harmonious without sacrificing freshness. Nutty, oxidative notes are (still) hardly present – instead it is dominated by citrus, minerality and Burgundian finesse. Tremendous potential for the next 15–25+ years.
A glance at the Alfavin cellar
A glance at the Alfavin cellar
A glance at the Alfavin Cellar