Champagne Discovery

beyond the bubbles

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ABOUT US

We are Gita and Lee, two self-confessed champagne lovers for whom this effervescent drink has been a huge part of our lives since meeting twenty-three years ago. Our first trip to the region was in 1999 to source bottles for our wedding. Since then, we have been visiting several times a year, have tasted thousands of champagnes and continue to discover amazing new producers, incredible wines and stories. We are immensely passionate about the top quality smaller domaines who tell a narrative through their creations, from vineyard to bottle. As well as the bubbles, Champagne is home to some excellent still white, red and rosés too; not to forget Ratafia de Champagne. This famous region is fortunate to be home to a myriad of World class winemakers, producing an array of diverse wines, we really are spoilt for choice. We love wine, we absolutely adore champagne!

Tchin tchin!

Champagne of the Month

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ÉTIENNE CALSAC

Les Revenants 2017

Our “Champagne of the Month” for June 2021 is “Les Revenants” from Étienne Calsac. Based in the Grand Cru village of Avize, this excellent young winemaker has been producing terrific wines since 2010. This was when he took control of 3 hectares of the family estate, predominantly in Avize which includes this famous village’s only Clos – in his grandparents back garden. The estate includes plots in nearby Grauves – also on the Côte des Blancs, Bisseuil in the Grande Vallée de la Marne and a plot in Montgenost in the Côte Sézannais that is planted with three of the lesser used varieties: Arbane, Petit Meslier and Pinot Blanc.

Étienne has been awarded the HVE certificate for sustainable viticulture and does not use herbicides. In the cuverie, spontaneous fermentation takes place and malolactic fermentation is carried out.

As stated, Les Revenants (those who come back) is born from a single plot in Montgenost on the Côte Sézannais. The soil here is a mix of sandy clay with chalk and this South facing lieu-dit is presumably a rather warm spot as it is named “Les Fours” – the ovens! The cuvée consists of 50% Pinot Blanc, 43% Petit Meslier and 7% Arbane; a vintage wine from the 2017 harvest. Vinification takes place in 600l oak barrels – demi-muids (half-hogshead) and the second fermentation takes place under cork – sous liège. It was disgorged in February 2019 with 2gl, sealed with a natural cork and alcohol is at 12% abv.

Tasted 18:00 Monday 31st May 2021 (flower day in the lunar calendar).

Characteristics: Pronounced intensity with primary aromas of lemon blossom, lemon verbena, lemon peel, pink grapefruit, pomelo, green apple, red apple, apple compote, chiku, Mirabelle, honeydew melon, kumquat, green mango, papaya, pineapple and persimmon. There are secondary notes of pastry, butter, vanilla, chausson aux pommes, lemon meringue pie, cloves and butterscotch. Tertiary aromas include marmalade, dried apple, toffee, caramel, hazelnut, hay and honey. The mousse is delicate whilst the finish is long.

Étienne produces a range of utterly delicious champagnes and this wine made from three of the ‘forgotten varieties’ is one you should try very hard to get your hands on. If you do, we would suggest allowing the wine a few moments to breathe before enjoying it. Larger glasses such as the Jamesse Grand Blanc may also lend themselves very well to this wine.

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Whilst drinking brilliantly now, it certainly has potential for a few years further ageing.

Price circa €74.00

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ŒNOTHÈQUE

our library of previous champagnes of the month