Gaston Chiquet - 750ML Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d'Ay Brut NV (12.5% abv)

$80.00

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.

“In 1919, two brothers, Fernand and Gaston Chiquet—winemakers born and bred—came together to create their house Chiquet Brothers. They were ‘pioneers’ in Champagne, the very first winemakers to take the initiative, bold at the time, to keep their grapes, turn them into Champagne and sell their own wine. Nicolas Chiquet planted his first vines in 1746, and since then eight generations have tilled Dizy’s soil. Gaston Chiquet registered the company in 1935 and expanded the property with land in Aÿ, Cumières and Hautvillers. Gaston Chiquet is best known for making the only blanc de blancs from the Pinot village of Aÿ. Aÿ was the big name in the area long before wines became sparkling, and many were the kings and popes who counted Vin d’Aÿ as their favorite wine. The vineyards slope down steeply to the village by the Marne River, and the best locations are just over the town, sheltered from the wind and with maximum exposure to the sun.”
-Richard Juhlin, 4000 Champagnes

100% Chardonnay
100% 2020
From Aÿ Grand Cru (24% Valnon Froid Cul,18% Vauzelles Crohau, 15% Les Granges Ouxo Pierreres,15% Haut Crohau, 10% Chatillons, 10% Freres Martin, 8% Longchamp)
Clay and limestone over chalk
Yes malo
25 year-old vines
Fermented and aged in stainless steel
Aged 36+ months on the lees
Dosage: 3g/L

91 W. Spectator: "With its lively, lacy mousse and well-cut acidity, this balanced Champagne would serve well as an aperitif, while its fine mesh and focused creamed apple, biscuit, preserved lemon and minerally brine flavors also recommend this to food. Try with fresh-shucked oysters or other shellfish. Disgorged December 2022. Drink now. 650 cases imported."

91 vinous: "The NV Blanc de Blancs d'A is creamy, ample and textured in the way it balances Chardonnay freshness with A structure. Dried flowers, mint, spice, orchard fruit, lemon confit and light pastry notes all come together nicely, framed by notable structure and a clean, ripe finish. This is a fine showing

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