🍇 Chardonnay, Meunier, Pinot Noir
Region: Chavot-Courcourt is located in the Côteaux Sud d'Epernay, which lies at the confluence of the northern tip of the Côte de Blancs and the eastern extreme of the Vallée de la Marne
Farming/Vinification: Champagne Chavost is a cooperative winery in the village of Chavot, currently led by the young and dynamic chef de caves Fabian Daviaux, who took over in 2019 at the young age of 30. Founded in 1946 by an original group of around 20 growers, the co-op is now comprised of the holdings of over 70 multi-generational growers. Until Fabian started, the winery resembled many co-ops in Champagne: its growers largely sold fruit to larger houses, the winery processed some grapes and sold off juice, and they produced some conventional wines for longtime customers. On a basic level it was a volume business, providing for its members by returning a modest income each year.
However, with Fabian in charge, all of that changed. He convinced the co-op's members to take all 5.5ha of their collective organic holdings and embark on a new journey: he would create a range of wines made entirely without additives or sulfites. This feat of persuasion shouldn't be overlooked: convincing many older growers to go in a completely new (and some would say, risky) direction was a bold decision on his part. The winery still produces a range of conventional wines, but for a cooperative in Champagne, this was a big and unprecedented step towards natural winemaking in a region that has often been highly resistant to change.
“Blanc d’Assemblage” is a blend of sustainably sourced Chardonnay and Meunier, with a splash of Pinot Noir that fermented on spontaneous, airborne yeasts in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic was also carried out naturally. The resulting wine was transferred into bottle and aged for at least 20 months before disgorgement without a gram of sugar (Brut Nature) or a single dose of sulfur. Again, eschewing the latter is an extremely rare practice in Champagne! This specific lot was fitted with a natural cork in 2021.
Notes: Zippy, bright and fresh with aromas of freshly cut green apple, white peach, Anjou pear, Rainier cherry, crushed chalk and wet rock. Traditional, elegant Champagne brimming with bright ripe fruit flavors and a mineral finish. Completely devoid of any unwanted “natty” flavors.