Gaston Chiquet - HALF BOTTLES Champagne 1er Cru Brut Tradition 375ML (12.5% abv)

$44.00

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

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40% Meunier, 35% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir
80% 2019, 14% 2018, 6% 2017
From Hautvillers 1er Cru, Dizy 1er Cru, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ 1er Cru, Aÿ Grand Cru
Clay and limestone over chalk
Yes malo
Fermented and aged in stainless steel
Aged 48+ months on the lees
Dosage: 4g/L

92 Wine Spectator: "A vivacious Champagne, showing the balance to recommend this as an aperitif but the focus to pair with food. Well-cut acidity is integrated with the refined mousse and notes of ripe black cherry and blackberry paste, Meyer lemon peel, biscuit and white blossoms. The finish is lingering and mineral-driven. Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now. 2,500 cases imported."

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