Champagne Etienne Calsac

In 2010, at the age of 26, Etienne Calsac decided to take control of his grandparents’ three hectares of vineyards scattered in and around Avize, which had previously been let out to the grandes maisons. Chez Calsac, stewardship of the terroir is the basis for great Champagne, so Etienne set out to ensure that all the vineyards are planted with grass cover crops, plowed, and transitioned to organic farming.

Etienne himself had worked several vintages helping with press before starting his own domaine, and he decided to maintain the same strict quality controls, but add a few personal touches inspired by tastings and conversations with other young vignerons. Each parcel is vinified separately, with a small percentage of wines aged in barrels. In addition to the perpetual reserve for his nonvintage cuvée l’Echappée Belle, Clasac also keeps a separate reserve tank for the single-vineyard Les Rocheforts.

Calsac has en eye for experimentation, and has released several limited cuvées, including a yearly vintage-dated Grand Cru from the Clos des Maladries in Avize, and Les Revenants, a blend of Pinot Blanc, Arbanne, and Petit Meslier from a vineyard Etienne planted himself in the Côte Sezanne. With dynamic releases and impactful quality, the potential of the domaine is unlimited - though the highly sought-after wines are not.