Cuvée “Sève” Blanc de Noir Brut Nature 2018

Wine Description for Cuvée “Sève” Blanc de Noir Brut Nature 2018 by Olivier Horiot

Character

Olivier Horiot is among the most idiosyncratic and uncompromising winemakers in Champagne. With his Cuvée „Sève” – French for “sap” or “life force” – he distils the essence of Pinot Noir in its purest form: as a Blanc de Noir, vinified without any dosage as Brut Nature. No sugar masks what the terroir has to say. The wine demands attention and rewards it with depth, tension and an unmistakable signature.

Terroir & Origin

Horiot manages his parcels in Les Riceys, the southernmost corner of Champagne in the Côte des Bar – a region that long stood in the shadow of the great houses, yet today is regarded as a haven for idiosyncratic winemaking personalities. The subsoil of Kimmeridge limestone, the same stone that lends the wines of northern Burgundy their mineral austerity, characterises these wines with a distinctive coolness and salinity. The 2018 vintage was warm and abundant in Champagne, yet produced wines of considerable ripeness and structuring acidity in the hands of artisanal winemakers.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Pinot Noir, pressed as a Blanc de Noir: the grapes are pressed gently so that the skins impart minimal colour – the result is a white Champagne that nonetheless carries the physical substance and depth of the red grape variety. Horiot works according to biodynamic principles, with low yields and minimal cellar intervention. The Brut Nature classification means: zero grams of residual sugar, no dosage. What lands in the glass is unvarnished nature – shaped by craftsmanship, patience and conviction.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The combination of body, minerality and bone-dry character makes this Champagne an ideal table companion. It harmonises with grilled seafood, oysters, scallops with butter sauce and fine poultry dishes. It also reveals its full expressiveness alongside mature Comté or goat’s cheese. Those who enjoy it as an aperitif should allow it time in the glass – it opens slowly and with dignity.