"Fleur de Passion is the jewel in the range from the house of Diebolt-Vallois. Fermented and aged in barrels, it is only made in the very best years.
The grapes come from 7 or 8 plots of old vines planted on hillsides - especially the fields known as Les Buzons - in the Grand Cru village of Cramant. These vines are all over 40 years old and many of them are 60 years old or even more. Yields are low. The soil consists of a thin layer of earth over a chalk base. The overall exposure is to the East-South-East.
Alcoholic fermentation takes place in barrel. Malolactic fermentation, filtration and fining are all avoided. Anything which might stress the wine is proscribed, so that the terroir can express itself as fully as possible. The wine is aged in burgundy 1-wine barrels. This is a "old style", traditional champagne. Dosage: 6-8 g/l"
The champagne house Diebolt-Vallois is to be found in Cramant, a village in the "Côte des Blancs", whose chalky soil makes the perfect home for chardonnay vines. It is certainly one of the finest terroirs in the Champagne region and is the realm of "blanc de blancs" champagnes.
The Diebolt family has lived in Cramant since the end of the 19th century, and the Vallois family has been cultivating vines in Cuis since the 15th Century. Although Jacques Diebolt started working with his grandfather, it was not until 1978 that the estate underwent a sea-change with the extension of the estate and the construction first of all of cellars, and then a winery.
