Special Club Flashcards
Paul Bara
“Special Club 2004”
Montagne de Reims
- Bara family grew vines in Bouzy since 1833
- Paul Bara passed away in 2015, and his daughter Chantale is now in charge.
- Wines show the finesse of Pinot Noir grown on south-facing slopes.
- The Baras make their wines by hand with low-yielding vines and good maturity ensured by prolonged bottle aging.
“Special Club”- blends two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay.
(He also made the very first Rose in Special Club history)
Henri Goutorbe
“Special Club” Grand Cru Brut 2006
Vallee de la Marne, Ay
- The Goutorbe family has been producing estate-bottled Champagne in Ay since the late 1940s. Emile Goutorbe a vine nursery business after WWI, and was also the vineyard manager at Perrier-Jouet.
“Special Club”- 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay. 100% Ay Grand Cru Old Vines. 84 months su latte!
Pierre Gimonnet & Fils
‘Special Club’ 2012
Cramant, Cote de Blancs
- Total vineyard holdings: 28 hectares
- Annual production: 20,000 cases
- Didier Gimonnet is now at the helm, leading the second generation of growers.
- The winery is in the premier cru village of Cuis where Didier’s family has been growing grapes since 1750.
- Pierre Gimonnet, Dider’s Grandfather, started bottling estate champagnes in 1935.
‘Special Club’ 2012
-The blend is 60% Cramant (from 7 parcels including the most ancient vines, well over 100 years), 30% Chouilly and 10% Cuis. It’s a masterpiece in the making but it’s also a rebel-yell of Club, big-footed and with unusual amplitude. I wonder whether it will slim down like the ’09.
What is the Special Club?
In 1971 a group of twelve growers started an organization called Club de Viticultures Champenois, to promote the concept of terroir and estate bottled, or grower Champagne in France and abroad. Today, the group consists of 28 growers, including three of the original members: Pierre Gimonnet, Gaston Chiquet and Paul Bara
What were some of the released Special Club vintages of the 2000’s?
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012
