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Wine Description
The Story
Clos Lanson - A Secret Garden
Located in the heart of Reims, le Clos Lanson is the only hectare of vineyard to remain within the historical walls of the city. Hidden behind high walls, this single vineyard of chardonnay dating back to the 18th century offers a breathtaking view of the Cathedral. Located just above the House cellars, le Clos Lanson is farmed like a true garden both because of its unique location and the special care it receives on a daily basis. In addition this single vineyard benefits from a very pure, chalky soil and an exceptionalmicroclimate which is favorable for the development of the vine. Each year only a very limited number of vintage bottles are produced.
The vines of Clos Lanson have always been a favourite of the House’s owners and are visited daily by the Wine-Maker. In order to carry on the Lanson family spirit, every year the men and women of the house help harvest this precious plot, selecting only flawless, quality grape bunches for the production of Clos Lanson Champagne.
The wine is vinified in oak barrels from the Argonne forest during few months only in order to develop aromas of great delicacy.
CHARDONNAY: 100% PLOT: Clos Lanson in Reims VINIFICATION: Oak barrels, 100% NML
BOTTLES DRAWN:
7 545 bottles / 247 magnums
AGEING: 12 years on its lees and 6 months minimum post disgorgement
DOSAGE: 3g/L Extra Brut
Wine Information
In spring 2009, the heavy downpours and gusts of wind left the vineyard little respite. Flowering was more or less spread out over early June, with a few cool nights. Fruit setting developed well, promising an excellent harvest. The grapes reached maturity during a spell of perfect summer weather, which the Champagne region has not enjoyed since the summer of 2003.The weather was hot, dry and extremely sunny for veraison in the last two weeks of August.Thanks to a rainy period at the beginning of September, the grapes were able to fatten before harvest.The prompt return of hot weather in early September meant that the grapes reached maturity under perfect conditions, right up to the harvest on 9 September, carried out by the women and men of the House. Clos Lanson 2009 is a combination of the minerality, freshness and very delicate woody note of this cuvée, with the unique generosity of the 2009 vintage.
Vintage 2015
A wet winter and mild spring gave way to an exceptionally dry summer from mid-May onwards. Hot weather prevailed until mid-August, when the skies opened again. Rains gave way to fine, cool, yet sunny weather for the first two weeks of harvest, which commenced on August 29th. The 2015 vintage has a lot of common denominators with the 2003 vintage but the 2015s are showing a better balance of weight and freshness with their average potential alcohol level of 10.5% and total acidity of 6.9 g/l. The quality and ageing capacity of the vintage has been questioned because of the low acidity, but to me the structure of the wine is not the problem; the aromatics are. Initially as vins clairs, I found the wines to come with ample, attractive fruitiness. The vegetal, particularly ash-like aromatics were subdued but have since then become amplified, especially in the vintage bottlings. Drought issues are considered to be the culprit to these widely spread aromatic issues of the year. I have come notably down from my initial assessment. However, most vintage and prestige cuvées are yet to surface from the cellars and their quality will make or break the vintage.
