No reserve price for Champagne Icon: 2005 Duménil Oenothèque Collection – Premier Cru! Exceptional Collector's Piece: Champagne Duménil Oenothèque Collection Millésime 2005 Bid on a rare, perfectly aged vintage from the highly respected, family-run Premier Cru Champagne House, Champagne Duménil. This auction is offered with No Reserve Price. The Wine: Millésime Oenothèque 2005 This is the prestigious Champagne Duménil Oenothèque Collection Millésime 2005, a special late-disgorged release from the celebrated 2005 harvest. * Oenothèque Significance: This Oenothèque (wine library) designation signifies a drastically extended period of aging on the lees. This special collection received an impressive 15 years (180 months) of aging on the lees, resulting in remarkable maturity, complexity, and depth, far surpassing the aging of the standard vintage release. * Vintage Quality: The 2005 vintage in Champagne is widely recognized as Excellent, producing wines of substantial richness, balanced structure, and outstanding longevity. * Composition: A blend sourced entirely from Premier Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims, featuring 60% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, and 20% Pinot Meunier. The high proportion of Chardonnay lends this wine its elegant finesse and superb aging potential. * Classification: Premier Cru. Grapes originate from the family’s own plots in Premier Cru villages, notably Chigny-les-Roses. Critical Acclaim and Tasting Profile This specific Oenothèque cuvée has been recognized by leading Champagne critics: * 87/100 Points: Richard Juhlin (The Champagne Club) for the Duménil Oenothèque 2005, tasted in 2022. * Tasting Profile: Expect a generous, full-bodied yet elegant Champagne. The long aging period has contributed harmonious layers of brioche, toasted hazelnuts, delicate citrus zest, and ripe orchard fruits, underpinned by profound minerality and a long, persistent finish. Critics note its rich, generous style that is dry but not harsh. Legacy and Distinction: Membership in Le Club Champagne Duménil is a proud and esteemed member of the exclusive Club Trésors de Champagne (also known as the Special Club). This membership is one of the highest guarantees of quality and craftsmanship in Champagne: * Ultimate Quality Circle: The Club Trésors is the only organization in Champagne that selects its members and their prestige cuvées based on uncompromising, twice-blind-tasted quality standards (once before bottling and again after aging). * Grower-Producer Focus (RM): Membership is strictly limited to Récoltants-Manipulants (Grower-Producers) who use only their own grapes and perform every step of the winemaking process entirely on their estate, guaranteeing a true expression of their unique terroir. * Family Heritage: Established in 1874 by Emile-Paul Duménil, the house is now managed by the fifth generation, continuing a tradition of meticulous viticulture across their 100 percent Premier Cru vineyards. Impeccable Provenance and Condition * Direct Provenance (OHMS): This bottle was secured directly from Champagne Duménil. The "OHMS" provenance confirms Direct Shipping from the Estate to a professionally maintained, climate-controlled wine cellar, ensuring optimal conditions since release. * Pristine Storage: Transferred to OHMS Professional Wine Cellar in November 2023. * Condition: Pristine, auction-ready condition. Labels and capsule are intact. The bottle is presented in its original elegant black gift box, making it ideal for collectors or as a luxury gift. This 2005 Champagne Duménil Oenothèque represents the pinnacle of a celebrated vintage from a dedicated Premier Cru grower, offered with flawless provenance and exceptional pedigree. A truly unmissable addition to any serious cellar. We ship well packed and fully insured. EU with DPD, rest of Europe with EMS, overseas with EMS or DHL. See the refference notes on our Catawiki.com profile before you bid!