Winemaker Notes
Blend of têtes de cuvée from terroirs in Avize, Oger, Cramant and Oiry. Practicing organic; use of high quality organic compost for the soils and vines; all fruit is hand-harvested.Natural yeast fermented; 100% malo; 25% of wine aged in older 600L casks; no fining nor filtration.25% aged in older 600L casks, the rest in tank; ageing sur lie 32-44 months; manual riddling; bottled unfiltered; 5 grams/liter dosage. SO2 50 mg/liter.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very intense minerality dominates in this blend, with pure aromas of chalk, subtle flowers, lemons and pastry. Medium-bodied, it shows zesty acidity and a lean yet silky palate that’s elegant and delicate.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Terroirs is an excellent introduction to the estate’s Chardonnays. Disgorged in August 2024 with three grams per liter dosage, it’s composed of 20% from the 2021 vintage (vinified in tank), 50% from 2020 and 30% from 2019, with half of the reserve wines aged on the lees in approximately 30-year-old demi-muids. Heavily based on Oger (around 40% of the blend), with the remainder coming from Oiry, Cramant and Avize, it’s already expressive, offering aromas of honeysuckle, nectarine, bread and fresh hazelnut. Medium to full-bodied with bright acidity and complemented by a pillowy mousse, it concludes with a long, sapid finish.?
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Vinous
The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Terroirs Grand Cru is another terrific wine in the lineup this year. Chalk, white pepper, sage and mint meld into a core of lemon peel and crushed rocks. All the elements are so well balanced. An equal blend of 2019 and 2018 juice from 100% Grand Cru sites in Avize, Oger, Cramant and Oiry, the Terroirs saw natural fermentation and 100% malolactic fermentation. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: June, 2023.
A term typically reserved for Champagne and Sparkling Wines, non-vintage or simply “NV” on a label indicates a blend of finished wines from different vintages (years of harvest). To make non-vintage Champagne, typically the current year’s harvest (in other words, the current vintage) forms the base of the blend. Finished wines from previous years, called “vins de reserve” are blended in at approximately 10-50% of the total volume in order to achieve the flavor, complexity, body and acidity for the desired house style. A tiny proportion of Champagnes are made from a single vintage.
There are also some very large production still wines that may not claim one particular vintage. This would be at the discretion of the winemaker’s goals for character of the final wine.
Associated with luxury, celebration, and romance, the region, Champagne, is home to the world’s most prized sparkling wine. In order to bear the label, ‘Champagne’, a sparkling wine must originate from this northeastern region of France—called Champagne—and adhere to strict quality standards. Made up of the three towns Reims, Épernay, and Aÿ, it was here that the traditional method of sparkling wine production was both invented and perfected, birthing a winemaking technique as well as a flavor profile that is now emulated worldwide.
Well-drained, limestone and chalky soil defines much of the region, which lend a mineral component to its wines. Champagne’s cold, continental climate promotes ample acidity in its grapes but weather differences from year to year can create significant variation between vintages. While vintage Champagnes are produced in exceptional years, non-vintage cuvées are produced annually from a blend of several years in order to produce Champagnes that maintain a consistent house style.
With nearly negligible exceptions, . These can be blended together or bottled as individual varietal Champagnes, depending on the final style of wine desired. Chardonnay, the only white variety, contributes freshness, elegance, lively acidity and notes of citrus, orchard fruit and white flowers. Pinot Noir and its relative Pinot Meunier, provide the backbone to many blends, adding structure, body and supple red fruit flavors. Wines with a large proportion of Pinot Meunier will be ready to drink earlier, while Pinot Noir contributes to longevity. Whether it is white or rosé, most Champagne is made from a blend of red and white grapes—and uniquely, rosé is often produce by blending together red and white wine. A Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay will be labeled as ‘blanc de blancs,’ while ones comprised of only red grapes are called ‘blanc de noirs.’