Extra Brut 2018+Res. Blanc de Blancs Chouilly Grand Cru

Wine Description for Extra Brut 2018+Res. Blanc de Blancs Chouilly Grand Cru by Vazart-Coquart & Fils

Colour & Appearance

Medium straw yellow with a vibrant, fine-beaded mousse – classic and inviting in the glass.

Nose

The nose is a masterclass in classic Blanc de Blancs elegance: a cool, almost ethereal chalky character forms the backbone, behind which unfold fresh lemon, lemon meringue and a hint of red apple with skin. Nuts, almond and shortbread lend depth and substance, whilst white flowers add a delicate, almost feminine note to the whole. Complex, yet never overwrought.

Palate

On the palate, the Champagne displays freshness and maturity in equal measure – a remarkably well-balanced tension. White-fleshed stone and pip fruit meets vibrant citrus freshness and a seductive hint of Cointreau. The texture is elegant with fine phenolics, the mousse lively and precise. The chalky-limestone minerality so characteristic of Chouilly builds impressive pressure, whilst the autolysis notes from the reserve wine contribute discreetly in the background, lending an elegant, saline and iodine-maritime depth.

Finish

Long, saline and characterised by an invigorating citrus minerality. The finish is dry and focused – the dosage of merely 1.5 grams makes no compromises here. A Champagne that demands the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes hail from a Grand Cru vineyard site in Chouilly, one of Champagne’s most renowned white wine terroirs. The vines – averaging 45 years old – are rooted deep in belemnite chalk, that characteristic limestone which lends this appellation its distinctive minerality and freshness.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Chardonnay. The cuvée unites 56% vintage 2018 with 44% perpetual reserve – a solera system begun in 1982 and renewed annually. Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with malolactic fermentation. Disgorged in June 2022, dosage 1.5 g/l Extra Brut. The estate is on its path to organic certification (first certified organic harvest: 2020).

Food Pairing Suggestions

The taut minerality and vibrant acidity make this Champagne the ideal companion for seafood and fish: Fish & Chips in finest British tradition, prawns in herb broth with Szechuan pepper or the seductive tandoor octopus with quinoa-corn salad and chutney.

Special Features

The perpetual reserve since 1982 lends this Champagne a multi-generational complexity that far transcends a simple vintage blend. A Champagne with character, integrity – and history.