Cuvée “Envol” Brut Nature Sans Soufre Ajouté 2018

Wine Description for Cuvée “Envol” Brut Nature Sans Soufre Ajouté 2018 by Olivier Horiot

Character

Olivier Horiot belongs to those radical craftsmen in Champagne who take purism to its extreme. His “Envol” is a Brut Nature without added sulphur – a double challenge that demands uncompromising work in both vineyard and cellar. This Champagne made from pure Pinot Noir forgoes any dosage and presents itself in its most original form: bone-dry precision, vibrant freshness and an almost meditative clarity. This is not about pleasing creaminess, but about authentic expression and the unvarnished truth of the 2018 vintage.

Terroir & Origin

Horiot works in the Côte des Bar in the south of Champagne, a region with Kimmeridge limestone soils that has more in common with Chablis than with Reims or Épernay. This cooler zone produces Champagnes with distinctive minerality and taut structure. The terroir gives the Pinot Noir a particular tension and depth that comes fully into its own in Horiot’s natural philosophy. The 2018 vintage was characterised in Champagne by warmth and ripeness, which lends the radical style a welcome fruit richness.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pinot Noir in Horiot’s hands is not a means to an end, but the heart of his philosophy. The grapes are biodynamically cultivated, spontaneously fermented and aged without sulphur addition – a rarity in Champagne that demands the highest precision. The Brut Nature dosage (zero grams of residual sugar) lays bare every flaw mercilessly, but also every quality. The result is a Champagne of vibrant energy that holds fruit, acidity and minerality in perfect balance, without cosmetic intervention.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This uncompromising Champagne calls for equally purist cuisine: raw oysters, sashimi or ceviche harmonise with its saline minerality. Also grilled fish, scallops or a simple goat’s cheese omelette underscore its directness. For those who prefer something more daring: button mushrooms or truffle risotto find in this wine an equally worthy partner.