Winemaker Notes
To the eye, the color displays a luminous golden hue, highlighted by a slight orange reflection. On the nose, the warm and sun-filled character of the vintage is immediately apparent. Ripe yellow fruits dominate, with clear notes of Mirabelle plum, apricot and peach. To this generous fruit profile is added a delicately smoky, spicy dimension, evoking Espelette pepper and paprika, which bring depth and complexity. On the palate, the attack opens with marked freshness, quickly followed by a beautiful concentration of fruit. The enveloping, structured mouthfeel evolves with precision in successive layers, gaining definition up to a clean, mouthwatering finish.
The richness of delicately caramelized red poultry finds a natural balance with the wine’s structure and concentration. The maturity of the fruit supports the density of the meat and complements the sweetness of the caramelization. The wine’s subtly smoky nuances harmonize perfectly with the paprika, creating an elegant aromatic continuity. Lemon balm, with its subtle aromatic freshness, echoes the tension of the finish and prolongs the mouthwatering sensation.
Blend: 68% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay
Representing the topmost expression of a Champagne house, a vintage Champagne is one made from the produce of a single, superior harvest year. Vintage Champagnes account for a mere 5% of total Champagne production and are produced about three times in a decade. Champagne is typically made as a blend of multiple years in order to preserve the house style; these will have non-vintage, or simply, NV on the label. The term, "vintage," as it applies to all wine, simply means a single harvest year.
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.’