94-Points by Burghound.
The Gonet-Medeville Coteaux Champenois Grand Cru Ambonnay Cuvee Athenais 2012 is a rare and unique still red wine from the Champagne region, crafted from 100% Pinot Noir. The nose displays enticing notes of red berries, earth, and spice. The palate is elegant, with refined tannins, bright acidity, and a lingering, complex finish. This wine is an outstanding choice for those seeking a distinctive and exclusive wine experience.
 
Gonet-Médeville is a family-run wine producer based in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux and spanning into Champagne. The Médeville family has a long-standing tradition of winemaking in this appellation and today the family holds two Sauternes estates, as well as several others in Bordeaux and Champagne.
Family history
The Médeville familly has its origins in Cadillac-sur-Garonne, on the right bank of the Garonne river (roughly opposite Sauternes), in the appellations of Cadillac and Loupiac. However, with the marriage of Numa Médeville to Marie Despujols (who had inherited the Château Gilette estate and the neighboring Les Justices site, which had been in her family since 1710), the Médeville family branched out into Sauternes in the 19th Century.
The Médevilles nonetheless remained in Cadillac for almost three generations, and were still operating Gilette from the other side of the river in the early 20th Century. Numa's grandson, René only moved to Preignac in the late 1930s.
René Médeville established the Gilette tradition of aging the grand vin in concrete cuves for between 15 and 20 years prior to bottling and release.
The château – and the wider Médeville properties which includes Château Réspide-Médeville in the Graves – is run by husband-and-wife team Julie and Xavier Gonet-Medeville. Xavier Gonet hails from Champagne and his portion of family vineyards comprises the Champagne branch of the Gonet-Medeville holdings.
The wine estates
Château Gilette is a 4.5-hectare (11-acre) estate located in the village of Preignac in Sauternes. The estate is unique in the region for its tradition of extended aging of its sweet white wines prior to release and, in most cases, the wines will spend 15 to 20 years in concrete cuves and minimal (if any barrel aging).
Château Gilette's flagship wine is the Crème de Tête made in varying volumes from the first juices to run from the grape press. Gilette's wines (including Crème de Tête) is a blend of predominantly Sémillon, with some Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle.
Gonet-Médeville's other estate in Sauternes, Château Les Justices, covers 8.5 hectares (21 acres) and makes a more approachable botrytis-affected sweet wine. This is aged and released in a more traditional manner.
There are several other Bordeaux estates in the Gonet-Médeville portfolio. Cru Monplaisir comprises nine hectares (22 acres) of vineyard planted largely to Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, while Domaine des Justices in Graves makes a red and a white Bordeaux blend.
Château Respide-Médeville, which was acquired by the Médeville family in 1959, is also in Graves and covers 14 hectares (34 acres). The plantings here are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (around 60 percent) with the remainder given over to Merlot for the red wines and a classic Bordeaux white blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle for the dry, barrel-fermented white wines.
Château des Eyrins covers three hectares (7.5 acres) of land in Margaux. This is planted largely to Cabernet Sauvignon, with lesser portions of Merlot and Petit Verdot. It was acquired by Gonet-Médevilles in 2009.
Champagne Gonet-Médeville
In 2000 the Gonet-Médevilles established their eponymous estate in Champagne. The holdings span 12 hectares (30 acres) of vineyards spread over eight villages.
This includes three Grands Crus (Le Mesnil sur Oger, Oger and Ambonnay), plus five Premier Crus – all planted to the well-known Champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.  The estate produces a range of Champagnes, including Blancs de Noirs, Brut and Rosé wines.