Champagne Flashcards
Describe the style of Marie-Courtin?
Exuberant depth of ripe fruit from the Côtes des Bar encased within a racy, streamlined structure, emphasizing intense mineral expression. The low yields combined with the S/SE exposure and clay/limestone soil with a streak of Kimmeridgean soil gives the wines both power and cut with an intense brininess and minerality at the core.
Marie-Courtin “Efflorescence”
Vintage-dated pinot noir champagne fermented and aged in oak barrels prior to secondary fermentation and typically released without dosage after 36 months on the lees.
The fruit used for the production of this cuvée comes from lower on the hill where there is more clay in the soil giving the wine more power.
Efflorescence means “to evolve in perpetuity” and Dominique Moreau feels that with a little kick start from oxygen exposure in barrel leading into the secondary fermentation that this wine will evolve to show many faces of development throughout its life.
Marie-Courtin “Indulgence” Rosé
Rosé champagne produced from an unusually long maceration (3-4 days) of Pinot Noir producing a deep, intensely fragrant champagne. Aged 3 years on the lees with no dosage and produced form biodynamically farmed fruit.
What is the village of Marie-Courtin?
Polisot in the Côtes des Bar
Marie-Courtin “Concordance”
100% Pinot Noir Champagne produced from Dominique Moreau’s oldest vines and entirely without the addition of sulfur. Incredibly complex and concentrated champagne that seems to have extra vibrancy of fruit without the sulfur addition.
Marie-Courtin “Eloquence”
Blanc de Blancs made from Dominique Moreau’s tiny parcel of Chardonnay. Instead of a rich and round expression one would expect from a champagne of the Côte de Bar this wine is rigid and taut, driven by its fierce backbone of minerality. When it’s at its best its one of the most exciting champagnes being made in the Aube today.
Billecart “Le Clos Sainte Hilaire”
A pure Pinot Noir champagne of intense personality from a single hectare of old Pinot Noir vines behind the winery in Mareuil-sur-Ay. Base wines are vinified entirely in oak. Ample and bold in flavor yet pinned down by an energetic structure. Demonstrates both opulence of ripe Pinot Noir and broad richness derived from the clay soils. A trifecta of perfect exposure, soil drainage, and a gentle slope. Dramatically low yields up to 3 times less than the average producing incredibly concentrated and complex wines. Aged on the lees for 10-15 years depending on the vintage
One of the most sought after bottles of Champagne in the world and production is limited to between 3,500-5,500 bottles annually for the world and only produced in the best vintages.
Between 1988-1994 the fruit from this vineyard was used for the red wine blended in to produce Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon.
First vintage of Clos Sainte Hilaire was 1995.
How many vintages of Billecart’s Clos Saint Hilaire have been produced to date? What are they?
6 vintages
‘95, ‘96, ‘98, ‘99, ‘02, ‘03
Bollinger R.D.
A style pioneered by Bollinger designed to emulate the tradition of saving bottles for family special gatherings where it was customary to disgorge the bottle just prior to enjoying for the purpose of enjoying Champagne at its freshest moment post disgorgment.
Led to longer lees aging than is customary and an entirely new style of Champagne all together. RD is predominantly Pinot Noir (2/3) with Chardonnay.
Essentially Grande Année that sees longer aging and sourced from 16 villages 66% Grand Cru all base wines fermented in oak (Bollinger style) then sees 15 years on the lees.
Preserved Oranges, Tart Tatin, Chamomile, apricot, plum, and hazelnut with impressive length, depth, and a sublime texture.
What was the first vintage of Bollinger R.D.?
1952
Which house was the first to list the date of disgorgment on the bottle?
Bollinger
