Delong Champagne Ter Originel MV

D&M NOTES:

TASTING:  The nose opens with bright stone fruits, citrus, toast, and zippy white stone minerality. On the palate this is just shy of moderate in weight with good acidity and a forward toast quality balanced by white fleshed stone fruits, just there sea spray, kumquat, and marcona almond. Excellent now, as we watched its evolution over several days, we can confidently say this will last through 2040 if you can wait that long.  (MK, 08/2025)

PRODUCTION: This bottling is sourced specifically from the three villages in the Côte de Sézanne. It is made up of 54% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Noir, and 18% Pinot Meunier, mostly fermented natively in stainless steel with 6% in oak, and kept in contact with its lees for a full 10 months. We appreciate precision in composition - it is 34% 2020, 26% 2019, and 40% from 2014 to 2018. After three years of lees ageing it was disgorged with a final dosage of 6.6 

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Located in the sleepy Côte de Sézanne, Delong traces its history back to 1966 and is today led by 2nd generation family member Marlène and her husband Damien.  He focuses on the vineyard work for their parcels while she focuses on the cellar and business side.  Within the first decade in full control they had strived for and achieved HVE (High Environmental Value) and since 2023, are certified Bio across their just under 10 hectares of vineyards. The bulk of their holdings in the Côte de Sézanne (5.3 hectares) are in plots within three villages: Allemant, Broyes and Sézanne. Here most of the vineyards have been planted facing south allowing for an even sun exposure through the day. The remaining 4.6 hectares are in Saint-Lumier en Champagne, a small village in the Vitryat hillsides. Across their holdings all of the three major Champagne varietals are planted.