Champagne Dhondt-Grellet was established in 1986 in Flavigny, just outside Avize, when Eric Dhondt and Edith Grellet chose to begin estate bottling their own fruit rather than selling to negociants. Their son Adrien took over the winemaking in 2012 at the age of twenty-two and has since transformed the domaine, progressively introducing barrel fermentation with ambient yeasts, perpetual reserves, and a Burgundy-influenced approach to elevage. The Wine Advocate's William Kelley has provided consistent and enthusiastic coverage of Adrien's work, significantly raising the estate's profile among informed buyers.

The Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cramant is drawn from 55-year-old Chardonnay vines on two complementary lieux-dits: Les Longues Verges, with its clay-rich soils and reliable water retention, and La Garenne, with atypically sandy, historically market-garden soils that contribute density and a distinctive textural character. The base 2021 was disgorged with less than one gram per litre of dosage, ensuring maximum terroir expression. A perpetual reserve dating to 1986 provides continuity, complexity and depth across releases.

Cramant Grand Cru occupies one of Champagne's most revered chalk outcrop positions, the Butte de Saran, producing Chardonnay of exceptional purity, salinity and tension. The combination of old vines, near-zero dosage and Adrien Dhondt's Burgundian cellar philosophy has produced wines that routinely score in the mid-nineties from the Wine Advocate across base vintages from 2017 onwards. The Cramant cuvee is considered the entry point into the Dhondt-Grellet range yet demonstrates quality far beyond its modest price positioning.

Excellent as an aperitif or alongside oysters, grilled langoustines or creamy risotto. The base 2020 character, described by William Kelley as another brilliant wine from Adrien Dhondt, rewards brief cellaring of two to three years, and the perpetual reserve integration provides immediate complexity for those who prefer drinking on release.

Bright pale gold with a fine, persistent mousse. Aromas of pear, orange zest, toasted hazelnut and dried white blossom are framed by a hallmark Cramant chalk note. The palate is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a seamless structure, lively acidity and a long, saline finish of considerable mineral character.