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Uutiset
Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
This single vineyard Champagne comes from the plot of Les Coulmets in Le Mesnil sur Oger where the 45 year old vines produce fruit of the finest quality. Produced in only the finest vintages and solely from Chardonnay grapes, it is made only from the juice of the first pressing (the finest juice) and is vilified in stainless steel tanks only.
After remaining in the cellar to mature for three to four years it is given only a light dosage of 6 grams of sugar and the resulting vintage Champagne shows extreme finesse. Champagne lovers who are in search of perfection will truly appreciate this wine.
To be served around 10 - 12 ° C so as not to kill the exceptional fragrances and these remarkable flavors.
The fine stream of steady pearls offer up a complex bouquet where dried fruit (raisins and figs)mix with candied fruit (oranges, pineapple and angelica) with a hint of its mineral origins. The palate is fine, extremely elegant and mineral and spicy, blond tobacco. The finish is fresh, citrus and mineral with hints of grapefruit zestiness. Another wonderful aperitif from this house but also a great partner to Parma ham and hazelnuts or even for Foie Gras for those that still eat it. We tasted the 2010 vintage just after this one and it just served to remind us how much more complexity will be derived from a couple of years in a cellar.
Wine Information
Champagne Guy Charlemagne is situated in the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the village of Le Mesnil sur Oger. As father to son wine growers since 1892, they only harvest and vinify grapes from their own vineyards. As a family business where tradition finds its path, they wish to share with you the values of their prestigious terroir by highlighting the quality and authenticity of their dream.
Philippe is a most genial man and, as we find with all of the greatest wine makers, his relaxed yet professional style shines through with each of his wines.
Grower Champagnes, unlike those of the mass market major houses, are fashioned to not only express a house style, but also to let the characteristics of their various vineyard sites shine through in each cuvee. Philippe manages this in spades and, with the family being blessed with vineyards in Le Mesnil sur Oger and Oger, two of the most prestigious Grand Crus of the whole of the Champagne vineyard, he has a great basis to craft the finest of Champagnes.
The scattering of individual vineyard plots throughout the two villages give Philippe Charlemagne a palette of base wines with which to fashion the very finest of Blanc de Blanc Champagnes.
Everything about the process of turning grapes into Champagne is traditional, from the hand harvesting to the traditional 4000 kilo presses, the first vinification in stainless steel (a part in oak too for the Mesnillesime Cuvee) to the blending of the base wines. It is this last stage where Philippe really excels marrying the different aromatic and flavour components that, after secondary fermentation in bottle and ageing in the cellars, will give a Champagne of the finest quality that truly expresses a sense of terroir.
Vuosikerta 2014
This year was all about alternating weather patterns. A particularly wet winter gave way to a warm and dry spring. May saw some rain, and even though late June-brought about a minor heatwave, the remainder of the summer was moist and murky. Disease pressure was lifted but once again fine, hot September weather was able to save and concentrate the crop. A large crop (11,553 kg/ha) was picked from September 8th onwards. The year's biggest problem was the sour rot caused by the drosophila suzukii flies. It, and the challenging weather, demanded plenty of care and selection work in the vineyards. The results are variable. The year was especially demanding for Pinot Meunier from the Vallée de la Marne, which received a lot of rainfall and was troubled by both mildew and sour rot. With an average potential alcohol of 10.0% and total acidity of 8.3 g/l, 2014 looks good on paper and so too in the glass, despite its challenges. The successful wines come with attractive fruit, lovely vibrant acidity and an overt easiness to them.
