The Grand Cellier d’Or is Vilmart’s “regular” vintage wine (an understatement by a mile). It is a spicy and linear wine, barrel aged but non-malolactic. The blend is composed of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir classified Premier Cru, from vines in Rilly-la-Montagne which are 50 years of age or older.

The base wine is aged for ten months in oak barrique. It spends 42 months on the lees, in the cellar after bottling, before disgorgement. It is rather dry, with 7 grams/litre dosage.

Immediately intense to the eye, it glimmers gold and yellow, and shows a fine, persistent bead. The palate displays fresh butter, lemon custard, candled pineapple, cardamom and pepper. Notes of chalk and roasted lobster shell evolve along with cinnamon and gingerbread. The finish is long and wraps up with flavours of grapefruit and praline. At once luxurious and tense, the wine is ready to drink now, but will evolve well.

“The 2017 Brut Grand Cellier d’ Or is a rich, exuberant wine. In 2017, the Brut Grand Cellier d’ Or has an exotic, tropical quality that is a bit unusual, but also incredibly appealing. Hints of mango, passionfruit, citrus confit and white flowers all build nicely in the glass. Medium in body and yet quite resonant, the 2017 is an absolute delight. The 2017 looks to be more of an early-drinking vintage, but I doubt that will be a problem for Vilmart fans. The blend is 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. Disgorged: July, 2021.” 92 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, November 2022