92 pts Vinous
Drinking Window 2023 – 2030
The NV Extra Brut Dans un Premier Temps is a blend of 50% Chardonnay from Sézanne, 30% Pinot Noir from Avenay de Val d'Or in the Marne Valley and 20% Pinot Meunier from Cuis in the Côte des Blancs. The nose is open and immediately aromatic with creamy, ripe, mellow apple flesh, think crisply cut Red Delicious and porridge topped with fresh apple sauce. The palate hits that same apple mellowness, but plunges into salty resonance and depth. The fine mousse dissipates a little quickly but the saltiness and depth is exemplary, mouthwatering and appetizing. There is a lovely apple skin hint on the long finish. This is the last time Dhondt made this wine with this composition, future editions will have far more Sézannais fruit in them. Dosage is 3gr/L. Disgorged: October, 2022. - Anne Krebiehl

This the first cuvée of Adrien's range and the largest; he intends it to be an expression of all 6 hectares of his holdings spread across Sezanne, Cuis, and Avenay val d'Or. Vines are an average of 45 years old.

The blend is 50% Chardonnay (Sezanne) - 1/2 fermented in barrel, the rest in tank & 30% Pinot Noir tank-fermented (Avenay Val d'Or in Vallée de la Marne), and 20% tank-fermented Pinot Meunier (from old vines in Cuis). The base vintage is 70% of the blend with the remainder a perpetual reserve started in 1986. In a few years all of it's vins clairs will be barrel fermented. Dosage is between 2g/l to 2.5g/l.