The 2018 Gaston Chiquet Champagne Carte d'Or Millesime is a Champagne blend consisting of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sourced from the Hautvillers and Dizy regions in France. This vintage has garnered noteworthy attention from several wine critics, each highlighting its distinctive attributes and overall quality.
Antonio Galloni of Vinous awarded the 2018 Carte d'Or a score of 92, praising its "lemon confit, dried flowers, chamomile, mint, and orange peel" which together lend an "exotic flair" to the Champagne. Galloni admired the wine's "weightless quality" and its "pretty floral overtones" which lift the finish effortlessly. He also noted the dosage of 6 grams per liter and mentioned that it was disgorged in January 2023.
Jeb Dunnuck's reviewer, Audrey Frick, rated the wine slightly higher at 93 points. Frick described the Champagne as having a "shimmering yellow hue" and highlighted its "aromas of pure ripe fruit," including spiced orange, golden peach, and black cherry, complemented by a hint of fresh biscuit. She noted the wine's "ripe and juicy" profile, full-bodied nature, and "refined mousse," alongside a "rich mineral texture accented with notes of fresh ginger." Frick commended the wine for its "character" and suggested it would drink well from 2024 to 2036. This batch was disgorged in September 2022.
Wine Spectator's review, which gave the wine a score of 90, described it as "bright" and "lively," with a "crisp texture to the mousse." The flavors noted included "crunchy white peach, blood orange sorbet, slivered almond, and licorice." This review also mentioned that the wine was disgorged in January 2023 and is ready to drink now.
Overall, the 2018 Gaston Chiquet Champagne Carte d'Or Millesime is a well-regarded wine, praised for its complex flavor profile, fine mousse, and balanced texture. With high marks from multiple respected reviewers, it stands out as a Champagne with notable character and finesse.