A mixed case of three exceptional vintage Champagnes
Vilmart's Coeur de Cuvée
The 2012 Coeur de Cuvée is magnificent.
The 2013 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is fabulous.
The 2014 Brut Coeur de Cuvée impresses.
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com
Vilmart, Coeur de Cuvée Mixed Case (2012, 2013, 2014)
£520 per 6 bottle case in bond
Vilmart remains one of Champagne’s quiet benchmarks: a family estate in Rilly la Montagne that has, for generations, pursued a distinctly artisanal path in a region increasingly defined by scale. Laurent Champs, who has run the domaine since the late 1980s, farms Premier Cru vineyards with a Burgundian sensibility, by focusing on small parcels, meticulous vineyard work, and a refusal to follow convention for its own sake. There is no malolactic fermentation here, lending the wines their hallmark tension, while ageing in oak (still a rarity in Champagne) brings a layered, textural depth that sets Vilmart apart.
Coeur de Cuvée sits at the pinnacle of the range, drawn principally from Vilmart’s oldest Premier Cru holdings (50 years plus) in Rilly la Montagne on the Montagne de Reims. The blend varies slightly by vintage - often Pinot Noir dominant (as in 2012), though occasionally tilting towards Chardonnay (as in 2014) but always reflects this interplay between depth and tension These mature, low-yielding parcels, rooted in chalk and worked meticulously, give the wine its hallmark concentration, saline cut, and quietly authoritative structure. Fermented and matured in barrel, and bottled without filtration, it is a wine that consistently marries the precision of great Champagne with the breadth and resonance more often associated with fine white Burgundy. What makes it so compelling is this duality: the wines are both powerful and restrained, generous yet tightly coiled, always marked by a fine, chalky cut and a persistence that lingers long after the last sip.
I first became familiar with the estate after tasting the 1996 vintage of Coeur de Cuvée in Champagne around twenty years ago and have remained a fan of these highly individual wines ever since. It still surprises me that they don’t receive wider recognition. As I discussed at a recent tasting, Champagne is today an incredibly dynamic region with lots of smaller producers approaching vinification differently and producing distinctive, high-class wines. Some have become quite trendy and perhaps have benefited from being the next new thing to be discovered. In comparison, Vilmart has been a constant since the 1990s - little has changed, and the quality and individuality impress me today just as they did all those years ago. Surprisingly, Vilmart remains a little off radar, despite significant critics’ endorsements.
A three vintage case such as this gives a particularly clear lens on the style. The house signature is all about refinement, energy, and that subtle interplay between oak, fruit and mineral drive, yet each year brings its own inflection. The riper, more immediate generosity of 2012. The taut, late harvest profile of 2013. The poised, quietly structured, yet bolder style of 2014. Taken together these three form a sequence that is both instructive and deeply satisfying to follow over time.
This offer works exceptionally well for anyone looking to explore Vilmart at its highest level through the lens of vintage variation, rather than in isolation. And who knows, by sampling a case like this, perhaps we might find a few more Vilmart devotees!
We are offering mixed cases of six bottles in bond, comprising two bottles each of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 vintages, at £520 per 6 in bond. Please note that we are mixing these cases – they are not pre-mixed by the estate.
Vilmart, Coeur de Cuvée Mixed Case
£520 per 6 bottles in bond
Comprising 2 bottles of each of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 vintages.
2012 Coeur de Cuvée
96 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, November 2020
The 2012 Coeur de Cuvée is magnificent. In this vintage Laurent Champs balances the natural intensity of the year with tremendous energy and vibrancy, making for a Champagne of remarkable beauty. Like all the Vilmart wines, the 2012 Coeur de Cuvée is super-refined. Even so, it is also incredibly tight and nowhere near ready. I find its depth, power and tension absolutely compelling. Bright saline notes, spice and floral accents extend the eternal finish. The 2012 is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. Disgorged: February 2019. Don't miss it! Drink: 2024–2032
2013 Coeur de Cuvée
96 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, November 2021
The 2013 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is fabulous, not to mention and absolute must-buy for Vilmart fans. All of the tension of the late harvest comes through in a Champagne that dazzles with tension and energy. Bright acids drive a core of Chardonnay fruit. Citrus, white pepper, white flowers and crushed rocks abound. Readers should be in no rush to open the 2013, it's a wine for the cellar. Disgorged: December, 2020. Drink: 2023–2033
2014 Coeur de Cuvée
94 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, May 2022
The 2014 Brut Coeur de Cuvée impresses with its density and overall energy. Apricot, baked apple tart, spice, chamomile and lightly honeyed accents all meld together. The 2014 is deep and beautifully centered, with tons of poise and impeccable balance. It's a pretty big wine by Vilmart standards, and yet all the elements are so well put together. The blend is 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. Disgorged: March, 2021. Drink: 2022–2030