4 éléments Chardonnay Les Blanches Voies Extra Brut 2018

Wine description for 4 éléments Chardonnay Les Blanches Voies Extra Brut 2018 by Huré Frères

Character

The Huré brothers are among those Champagne producers who work with radical reduction – Extra Brut means less than 6 grams of residual sugar per litre here, which unleashes the pure essence of Chardonnay. The „4 éléments“ is part of a philosophical series that engages with the fundamental elements. „Les Blanches Voies“ – the white paths – refers to the chalk cliffs of Champagne, which lend this wine its mineral precision. As a vintage Champagne from 2018, it displays the maturity and complexity of a specific harvest year, far removed from standardised flavour.

Terroir & Origin

Huré Frères manages parcels in the Côte des Bar in the south of Champagne, a region increasingly appreciated for its distinctive, terroir-driven Champagnes. The chalky soils shape the character decisively: they lend the wine that saline minerality and tension which sets it apart from richer styles. The more continental climate of the Côte des Bar produces ripe, concentrated grapes that nonetheless retain their freshness – a balance that was particularly successful in 2018.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Chardonnay in pure form, without dosage cosmetics: this demands perfect grape material and craftsmanship. The Huré brothers work according to biodynamic principles, with spontaneous fermentation and extended yeast ageing, which imparts depth and creamy texture to the Champagne. The Extra Brut style underscores the precision and directness that Chardonnay develops on chalky soils – bone-dry elegance rather than pleasing sweetness. With moderate 12% alcohol, the wine remains light-footed and approachable.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This style of Champagne calls for dishes with character of their own: raw oysters, scallop carpaccio, sushi or sashimi. The mineral complexity also unfolds beautifully with aged Comté or goat’s cheese. The low dosage makes it an ideal companion to steamed turbot or lobster with lemon butter – dishes where sweetness would be unwelcome.