NV Philippe Glavier "La Grace d'Alphael" Extra Brut, Champagne, France 1.5L MAG

ABOUT THIS WINE

100% Chardonnay. The cuvee is a blend of 60% 2017 and 40% reserve wine. The fruit is harvested from an assortment of vineyard sites; 25% Cramant Grand Cru, 34% Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru, 23% Oger Grand Cru, 18% Avize Grand Cru. The soils consist of chalk over clay with marl in Cramant and more alluvial soils in Oger. Both alcohol and malolactic fermentation takes place in stainless steel. The wine is aged for 29 months in bottle and was disgorged in September 2020.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Philippe and Véronique Glavier manage this small (4.5Ha) estate in the village of Cramant. This is a family run domaine; Philippe who studied in Avize, works the vineyards and cellar while Véronique manages the business. Véronique is the 12th generation of winegrowers in Monthelon, and as she was growing up she was categorically certain of one thing: She would never marry a wine grower. As fate (and life) would have it, she met Philippe, on a skiing trip in 1993 and he changed her mind. Champagne Glavier began in 1995. Phillipe used the cellars of Véronique’s family at first, until they were able to buy their own cuverie and build the press house and cellar. They were able to secure vineyards in Mesnil, Oger and Avize as well – in the last 20 years there has been a lot of work, and a lot of investment. Essentially this is a winery started from scratch. Today, they manage the estate in Cramant with holdings in Avize, Oger, Cramant and Les Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Glavier has 49 different terroirs over 4.5 hectares; each terroir is picked at optimal ripeness and vinified separately. The various final cuvées are assembled by taste and not by recipe.