AD 191 Extra Brut, Blanc de Blancs Chouilly Grand Cru 2016

Wine description for AD 191 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Chouilly Grand Cru 2016 by Vazart-Coquart & Fils

Chouilly, the northernmost Grand Cru of the Côte des Blancs, is pure Chardonnay country – and AD 191 is perhaps its most exciting single-vineyard expression. Jean-Pierre Vazart tasted and meticulously noted the small La Cerisière plot for years before vinifying it separately for the first time in 2016. The result is a mere 1,640 bottles of a Champagne that demonstrates why this part of Champagne needs no grand gestures: limestone, time and restraint suffice.

The 2016 vintage was a nail-biter – late frosts in April, summer rain, then heat, followed by further wet weather just before harvest. Yields dropped drastically, yet the grapes that were picked were of exceptional quality. Vazart’s steadfast use of stainless steel rather than wood, combined with a dosage limited to a minimum of one gram, makes this wine a pristine expression of its origin: it is the soil that speaks, not the cask.

Colour & appearance

Pale golden yellow with a coppery sheen; after the initial mousse settles, a very fine, steady bead.

Nose

Inviting and multi-layered: white nougat, warm puff pastry, alongside candied orange peel, a hint of ginger, underpinned by quince, lemon and green apple – all carried by a cool, chalky, slightly iodine note.

Palate

Ripe yet fresh, silky yet taut. Warm croissants with almond cream, juicy stone fruit, chalky textures and a delicate sweetness meet saline veins and vibrant minerality. The mousse dances, while the structure remains crystal clear.

Finish

Long, refined and marked by a delicate extract that carries the interplay of richness and freshness well into the aftertaste.

Terroir & origin

The La Cerisière plot in Chouilly – cadastral reference AD 191 – rests on shallow, chalk- and limestone-rich soils. Old vines, Grand Cru site, Côte des Blancs: no further arguments are needed.

Grape variety & vinification

100% Chardonnay. Base wine aged in stainless steel tanks with malolactic fermentation; bottle fermentation from May 2017, six years on lees, disgorged with a dosage of just 1 g/l – a true Extra Brut.

Food pairing

A refined start to any meal and an equally assured companion at the table: with oysters, turbot ceviche, pan-fried sole or Comté. Also a remarkable experience on its own.

Special features

A single-vineyard Champagne in a tiny production run of only 1,640 bottles – a rare opportunity to read a single Chouilly parcel with absolute clarity in the glass. Drink now or wait another six to eight years.