Winemaker Notes
The nose is discreet and delicate, the most prominent notes being of orchard fruits such as apple and pear. After aeration, the apple aromas take on more caramelized scents of baked apple, tarte tatin and finely roasted hazelnut. The Chardonnay then develops a limestone character with mineral notes of hot stone, delicate spice, candied lemon, citrus, graphite, and even a hint of tobacco. The wine is velvety on entry to the palate, with a soft, smooth texture which dominates the palate, coating it with a delicate yet concentrated mouthfeel. It then broadens to reveal a zesty yet mineral freshness. The wine continues to take shape on the palate showing density at first, followed by a raw almond freshness that lengthens the finish. The undeniably saline end-palate is underpinned by an interminable chalky freshness that makes your mouth water, refreshes the palate, and invites you to take another sip.
A perfect match with oysters, summer salad with hazel nuts and goats’ cheese, or prawns or langoustines.
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.’