Champagne Charpentier, Terre d'Emotion, Pinot Meunier Zero Dosage NV

£86.60

A Meunier in its purest form, this is rare encounter. While there is a renaissance and newfound love for the Meunier grape currently, the vast majority of growers will focus on exuberant style and slightly oxidative style. Jean-Marc Charpentier chose to showcase something completely different. There is no make up, therefore no oak ageing and no dosage. It does come from a unique site from the oldest vines of the family. A rare expression of fresh and vibrant red fruits with a lot of minerality shining all the way through. Rightly poised, never austere with the same creamy bubbles that are the signature of Jean-Marc Charpentier Champagne. This style of Champagne will appeal to the grower Champagne lover and collectors alike.

A Meunier in its purest form, this is rare encounter. While there is a renaissance and newfound love for the Meunier grape currently, the vast majority of growers will focus on exuberant style and slightly oxidative style. Jean-Marc Charpentier chose to showcase something completely different. There is no make up, therefore no oak ageing and no dosage. It does come from a unique site from the oldest vines of the family. A rare expression of fresh and vibrant red fruits with a lot of minerality shining all the way through. Rightly poised, never austere with the same creamy bubbles that are the signature of Jean-Marc Charpentier Champagne. This style of Champagne will appeal to the grower Champagne lover and collectors alike.

During the difficult vintage 2017, Jean-Marc and his team went to harvest their oldest vines of Pinot Meunier. A plot planted in 1961 in Lieu dit "Les Chauffours" one of the family historical vineyard. As bad weather conditions already impacted the very fragile Pinot Meunier, a drastic sorting was needed (50% was discarded) keeping only the best berries. It was vinified and kept separately. Come blending time Jean-Marc was struck by its singularity and personality he decided not to include it in any of his blends. Tasting and tasting and as the months passed, he finally decided to bottle it on its own in the purest form. Effectively a non declared 2017 vintage. It is worth noting that Pinot Meunier is the problematic child of all Champagne grapes. Difficult to grow, very thin skin, easily get overripe and easily damaged by grey rot. A similar scenario also during vinification, it can easily get oxidative and flabby. It takes a visionary to produce a Champagne as elegant and pure as this Terre d'Emotion Pinot Meunier.

Terroir: Vallée de la Marne. Cru Charly-Sur-Marne. Vineyard plots: Les Chauffours, a vine planted in 1961 in the heart of Charly amphitheatre. Traditionally cultivated, in part, in the blend of Terre d´Emotion cuvées. Varietals: 100 % Pinot Meunier. Geology and soil: Limestone marls on hard limestone subsoil. Atypical presence of millstones and silex. Fermentation: In line with the winemaking of Terre d´Emotion cuvées with alcoholic fermentation at ultra low temperature. Assemblage: “Les Chauffours” plot, 2017 harvest only. This parcel, acclaimed for its unique expression, is one of the natural links with our reference champagnes Terre d´Emotion. Unfiltered wine, not fined. Disgorging: May 2020. Dosage: Zero dosage (brut nature)

 

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