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Wine Description
The Story
It is a cuvee for purists who like the minerality of the Terroirs of Côtes des Blancs. Our first cuvée 'non dosé' was created on 1985. We were pioneers on the Brut Nature style. We do not elaborate a specific blend for this cuvée. Each year, we taste all the vintage cuvées which are maturing on lees in our cellars. When one of them is naturally well-balanced, we decide to sell it with no dosage. We want to create a wine naturally balance between minerality, complexity and delicacy with a chalky mineral finish.
For lovers of Champagnes Blanc de Blancs, this cuvée is welcome to be enjoyed alone, for an intense and intact emotion or to sublimate a platter of seafood.
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Origin: 100% Côte des Blancs (76% Grand Cru & 24% 1er cru)
32,5% CHOUILLY Grand Cru (« Montaigu » and « Ronds-Buissons)
33,5 % CRAMANT Grand Cru (« Buissons », « Bateau », « Bauves », « La Croix », « Gros Mont » …)
22 % CUIS 1er Cru (« Croix-Blanche » and « Roualles »)
10% OGER Grand Cru (« Terres de Noël » and « Champs Nérons »)
2% VERTUS 1er Cru
Vinification: Grapes were harvested manually, split pressing, cold settling, temperature controlled alcoholic fermentation, malolactic fermentation, stainless tanks for 8 months (2 rackings), cold stabilization (-4°) and filtration on clay. Bottling in April 2009 and ageing in bottle more than 10 years on lees. Disgorgement in 2021. No sugar added.
Production: We keep 6,000 bottles for selling after long maturing
Vintage 2012
The next most exceptional vintage since 2008. A truly difficult growing season saw severe frosts in the winter. March brought warmth but early budbreak made the vines vulnerable to spring frosts. Overall, the early growing season was wet, and mildew became a serious issue. However, conditions improved dramatically in the later summer months. An August heatwave resulted in a rapid accumulation of sugar, but fortunately the nights remained cool, which helped to preserve acidity. Although yields were low (averaging at 9,210 kg/ha) due to frost, hail and disease early in the season, the 2012 harvest was exemplary in its maturity, acidity and grape health. A rare high acid, high sugar September harvest with impeccable concentration of flavour and refreshing vibrancy. Pinot Noir is the superstar of the vintage, though Pinot Meunier excelled too. A vintage that promises great longevity for the finest cuvées, it was widely declared by producers. However, Krug decided to invest in its reserve wines on this great year, and no Vintage was produced. The quality of 2012 is universally high, with the greatest releases so far including Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Bollinger La Grande Année and La Grande Année Rosé, as well as Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé.