Rebelle Of A Champagne

🥂Closing the chapter on last Thursday’s live with @iola.wines a “rebelle” and all around wonderful lady of 10 generations of champagne winemaking , Christine of @piotsevillano A brilliant winemaker (see my post on my visit last December), a spirited woman reflected in her beautifully expressive champagnes and clever winemaking, This champagne is 100% Chardonnay from the Meunier dominant Vincelles in the Vallée de la Marne.  An area known to locals as “Petit Ay” because this area is to Meunier what Aÿ is to Pinot Noir.  A 100% Chardonnay with a dosage of 6,5 g/l, the wines is made from 90% of reserve wines from 2019 and 10% of reserve wines from 2018 aged in oak barrels, aged for 3 years due lie.

🥂Hold me closer tiny dancer as the delicate bubbles rise up in the glass. The first swirl is incredibly generous in its aromas as is the first sip darlings - ripe stone fruit, baked apple & quince, lemon curd, smoke, minerals, brioche, honey and marzipan.

🥂First sip is a hallmark of Chardonnay flexing its muscles of its terroir - the dominant sandy with limestone undertone is evident in the fruit - rounder and embracing with a mineral backbone sending signals of elegance and richness harmoniously balanced: it has the best of both worlds.

The style is clearly its own terroir with a clear passion of winemaking backing its character.

Unlike the Cote de Blancs style which is searing in its acidity, linear and mineral driven, this lovely is full of floral bouquet, quince jam, lemon curd, yellow plum, cultured cream and mushroom umami all wrapped in a bow of lengthy finish of toasted hazelnuts. Nicely balanced mouthfeel with a creamy hug. The kind of blanc de blancs that will please any champagne disbeliever because it’s perfectly balanced between acidity and sweetness.

Pair with succulent oysters, crab cakes, or ceviche also enjoy chicken cutlets with a lemon sauce or soft cheeses. Heck who needs food with a lovely champagne this good.