Cuvée Irizée Chardonnay Extra Brut 2016

Wine description for Cuvée Irizée Chardonnay Extra Brut 2016 by Régis Poissinet

Colour & Appearance

Seductive platinum yellow in the glass, threaded through with a fine, elegant mousse that bears witness to extended ageing on the lees.

Nose

A brilliantly bright, almost ethereal aromatics unfolds: yellow citrus fruits dominate, accompanied by green citrus notes and crisp stone fruits. These are joined by crushed chalk and delicate white flowers – an olfactory profile of remarkable clarity and precision.

Palate

Here the Champagne reveals its true character: a powerful build of pressure, knife-sharp yet possessed of the finest texture. The citric fruit returns, embedded in a creamy mousse. The oak ageing now makes itself subtly felt – not intrusive, but structure-giving. What distinguishes this wine is its electrifying minerality, which courses through the palate like an electric shock and creates enormous tension.

Finish

Long, precise and carried by vibrant freshness. The chalky minerality lingers and leaves a saline, appetite-stimulating impression.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes hail from vineyards at the threshold between the Marne Valley and the Montagne de Reims – from the vineyard sites of Cuchery, Baslieux, Leuvrigny, Troissy and Mareuil le Port. The chalky clay and alluvial soils decisively shape the mineral character of this Champagne.

Grape Variety & Vinification

A single-varietal Chardonnay from the 2016 vintage, aged 100% in oak. The 641 bottles were hand-riddled and disgorged on 19 May 2022 with a minimal dosage of 2.4 grams – a true Extra Brut with just 12% alcohol.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This precise, mineral Champagne calls for equally purist accompaniments: oysters in all their variations, scallop carpaccio with citrus and toasted sesame oil or chickpea salad with herbs and cod.

Special Features

A strictly limited release of just 641 bottles from an artisanal winemaker who prioritises precision over opulence. A Champagne for purists.