Chardonnay de la Côte des Bar, Brut Nature 2018

Wine Description for Chardonnay de la Côte des Bar Brut Nature 2018 by Louise Brison

Colour & Appearance

Luminous straw yellow with bright reflections. The mousse presents itself as fine-bubbled and intense, with small to medium bubbles that rise remarkably long in the glass – a visual promise of elegance and precision.

Nose

Here reveals itself a Champagne that deliberately eschews yeast notes and brioche, instead celebrating varietal Chardonnay fruit. Mirabelle plum, peach and Williams pear dominate, flanked by yellow and red apples. Exotic accents of persimmon and yellow plum add complexity. The citrus fraction – bergamot and lime zest – lends freshness, whilst lemon balm, mint and lemongrass contribute herbal vibrancy. With air contact, subtle smoky notes and grilled pineapple develop, underpinned by the characteristic chalky-stony minerality of the Kimmeridge soil.

Palate

Carried by an almost weightless elegance, this Brut Nature presents itself as filigree and tapering. No opulence, no softness – instead enormous length, finely chiselled acidity and a cool, stony texture that lines the mouth. The restrained mousse leaves room for minerality and clarity. The wine feels taut, sinewy, vinous – precision over richness. Delicate almond and marzipan notes provide subtle depth without overwhelming the freshness.

Finish

Long, transparent and marked by cleansing minerality. The yellow-green fruit notes linger, carried by the cool acidity and the chalky signature of the terroir.

Terroir & Origin

From the Côte des Bar in southern Champagne, where the vineyards sit at 320 metres elevation on the legendary Kimmeridge limestone – that same soil which gives Chablis its character and represents a paradise for Chardonnay.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay from the 2018 vintage. Fermentation and maturation took place in barrique barrel, bottling in June 2019. Disgorging occurred in February 2025 – with 0 g/l dosage, thus uncompromisingly dry and purist.

Food Pairing Suggestions

With raw oysters, scallops or ceviche. Also with steamed turbot with lemon butter, goat’s cheese or asparagus risotto with herbs – anywhere that purity and minerality are called for.

Special Characteristics

A Champagne for purists: Brut Nature, without dosage, without compromise. Louise Brison demonstrates here a radically distinctive style that presents Chardonnay in its clearest, most vinous form – more white wine with bubbles than classical Champagne.