J. Vignier "Silexus Sezannensis" Brut
This marks the first of the range of single parcel Champagnes that drew us to Nathalie Vignier in the first place, and for which we had to wait two years to get. The name of this first Champagne tells you what it is exactly: silex soil champagne from the Côte de Sézanne. This region extends south of the Côte des Blancs and Nathalie’s family has been purchasing land here for several decades. The region is dominated by chardonnay grown on chalk and marl, like the more famous Côte to the north. In fact, the subsoil remains Cretaceous chalk throughout the Sézanne before turning to Kimmeridgian chalk as one moves toward the Aube. 4 of Vignier's 12 hectares here are in a parcel called “Chatet” near the village of Saudoy, and the soil here is silex, a flint and sand based soil mixed with chalk, marl, clay and silica. Vignier’s other parcels are in Vindey, which is pure chalk, and oak forests which they are starting to harvest for barrels. Ultimately, this wine will be fermented in these barrels from the local oak forests they own in the Sézanne. The current offering is all from 2011, picked at an impressive 11° Baumé and fermented in enamel. It has aromas of ginger, lemon curd and exotic spice. It was disgorged in December, 2015 and has 5 grams dosage with cane sugar.
- N.V.
- Chardonnay
- France
- Champagne
- Côte de Sézanne
- Chatet
- South
- Silex over Cretaceous chalk
- Organic
- Stainless steel
- 48 months in bottle
- 100% 2011
- 11.75%
- 4.6 g/L
- 6 g/L
- Sugar cane 5 g/L
- Yes
- 3.07
- Spring 2016
- 750 ml
- Champagne
- $63.01