Recently, I`m drinking great Pinot Noir with and from Burt Williams and he made the comment that champagne used to be made with Pinot Gris long before chardonnay which I was not aware of or had forgotten if I was, so I looked it up and found:
Comprising maybe .02% of all Champagne grapes, and used by very very few producers, are Arbanne, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris (also known as Fromenteau), and Petit Mesilier. One producer who uses these varieties is Aubry Champagne. These grapes are no longer planted but the complex Champagne regulations allow some previously planted vines to be used. Also historically allowed were Pinot de Juillet and Pinot Rosé, but they are primarily historical footnotes which were disallowed in 2010 (although it appears that none existed).
Jim, I thought of you when I posted this and knew you knew and probably have some of the exceptions. My next visit will be during the next college basketball season most likely after the first of the year. I`ll be in touch when that happens. Cheers.
N.V. Laherte Frères Champagne Les 7 Extra Brut Champagne Blend
3/14/2015 - I LIKE THIS WINE:
93 points
Spicy, appley, peary nose, with s little nutty oxidation and hints of fresh thyme and rosemary. Full and rich, with subtle acidity supporting and delineating the fruit.
This was my favorite of 4 Lahertes tasted with Aurélien here in Atlanta, though I liked them all.
My next favorite was the N.V. Laherte Frères Champagne Rosé de Saignée Vieilles Vignes Les Beaudiers:
Tart cherry with a little citrus, round on the palate with nice acidity and a hint of tannin, it seems more like a wine that happens to be effervescent than a typical Champagne, which I mean as a compliment.
2004 Fleury “Cuveé Robert Fleury” Extra Brut Champagne
Barrel-fermented Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc, which is a real rarity in Champagne–it only exists in a few spots in the Aube and it adds a ton of body to this very rich wine. Fleury was one of the first to farm biodynamically in Champagne.
Second this. And Pierre Gerbais’ Originale is so-so, at best. In my experience, aside from Aubry’s more often than not spectacular Nombre d’Or, Drappier’s Quattuor is the most accomplished wine made up mostly of Champagne’s less conventional grape varieties.
ChampagneWine type: SparklingVarietals: White BlendVarietal notes: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier et Chardonnay
Organic: Practicing
Vineyard: Blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier and Chardonnay planted in 0.2 hectare vineyard of La Fosse in the village of Avize.
Soil: Limestone and clay
Viticulture: Practicing organic, hand-harvested.
Vinification: 50% 2011, 50% 2010.
Natural yeast fermentation in older 600L casks, full malolactic.
Aging: Spends four years on the lees with manual riddling. Limited to 5 grams of dosag, SO2 50mg/l. Disgorged March 2013, a minimum of 60 days prior to commercialization.
Production: Extremely limited Notes: This wine is intented to display Pascal’s notion that terroir trumps variety. He believes that 10 years from now, people will taste Complantée and guess it to be a tasty little Chardonnay from Avize. It is fresh and terroir-driven with lively acidity and tension
What? No Pinot Gris? The only missing varietal of the 7 possible.
Thanks for the info on this one. Im amazed as to how many exceptions there are to the rule, but leave it to the members of this board to reveal such. Its beserking.
