NV Gaston Chiquet 1er Cru "Tradition", Brut, Champagne, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

The cuvee consists of 40% Pinot Meunier, 35% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. The base wine was harvested in 2014. The soil is made up of clay and limestone on belemnita quadrata chalk. This chalk variety stores and radiates solar heat, maximizes drainage of excess water and retains humidity in summer. It stores the principal minerals that give the grapes their high ester content.

The average age of the vines are 25 years. The grapes were harvested by hand in September and transported in vented crates. Hydraulic presses of 4,000 kg. The vineyard is certified as High environmental value and Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne. Harvest is done by parcel. Static settling takes place for between 15 to 20 hours. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, tartaric stabilization in small-volume, temperature-controlled tanks during 4 to 7 months after harvest. Aged on lees 2.5 to 3.5 years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Nicolas Chiquet farms 23 hectares in the Valle de la Marne in the villages of Ay, Dizy, Hautvillers and Mareuil-sur-Ay. All of the fruit (including that which is used in the non-vintage cuvee) comes from premier and grand cru grapes. Nicolas does not employ any oak aging at Gaston Chiquet; he believes that concentration, fruit maturity and malolactic fermentation impart enough body and texture to make aging in barrel unnecessary.

The vineyards are planted to equal (forty percent each) parts chardonnay, pinot meunier and twenty percent are planted to pinot noir. Gaston-Chiquet also produces a vintage dated chardonnay from 5 parcels on the western side of the grand cru village of Ay. Usually recognized as a grand cru village for pinot noir, these vines of chardonnay were planted in Ay in the 1930s.