Grain d’Argile 2018 & 2017 Extra Brut NV

The Chardonnay of this cuvée comes from chalk soils with a clay layer, the Pinot Noir from loamier soils with a chalk and limestone underlay. The yield was 60 hl/ha. The vines are around 40 years old and were ECOCERT certified in 2012. For the base wine, 70 % of C½ur de Cuvée and 30 % of Taille were used. After natural settling, 40 % of the juice was fermented in barrel as well as 60 % in stainless steel tank and aged for nine months. 65 % of Chardonnay and 35 % of Pinot Noir were used for the champagne. Around 75 % were from 2018 and 25 % from 2017. The wine matured in bottle for 30 months. There was no dosage. The champagne was disgorged by hand.

light yellow gold with relaxed perlage

The Grain d'argile, which Grains from Sound, as it translates, is a champagne that combines the fruitiness and vinosity of Pinot Noir with the freshness and pressure of Chardonnay. On the nose, one finds white flowers, white peaches, a little orange and yellow apple combined with some dried fruit and hazelnuts that have been only partially toasted.

On the palate, this interplay of vinosity and freshness continues. The champagne has a pleasant pressure on the palate, plays with a silky texture and has an excellent aromatic depth, where ripe red and yellow fruits, citrus fruits complement each other with nuts and a hint of wood. Underneath, the minerality bubbles, the perlage appears nervous in a very pleasant way and the lack of dosage forces the feeling of chalkiness and clarity. At the same time, the champagne comes across as distinctly charming and inviting with a fine creaminess.