Lightly burnished gold with a fine column of persistent bubbles, Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010 Extra Brut is a Grand Cru blend with 90% Côte des Blancs fruit and 10% from Sillery in Montagne de Riems. It was fermented in stainless steel before aging a minimum of nine years under cork and finished with a four grams per liter dosage. Expressive from the start, it opens to complex aromas of toasty brioche, lemon tart, creme fraiche and subtle hints of smoke. Medium-bodied with a supple acid frame, it has an understated richness and a very creamy, vibrant and ripe yellow apple palate that finishes long and fresh. The bottle tasted was disgorged August of 2022.

The 2010 Dom Ruinart is starting to open up nicely. There's still plenty of the intense, chalky minerality and energy the wine showed last year, but also a bit more mid-palate richness to balance things out. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, slate and white pepper are some of the many aromas and flavors that take shape in the glass. As good as the 2010 is today, I imagine it will be even better in another few years' time. As I have written previously, the 2010 Dom Ruinart is one of the most impressive Champagnes ever made here. If there is anything better, I don't think I have tasted it!