Champagne, Vouette & Sorbée, Blanc d'Argile Brut Nature
About Producer
Turning his back on selling grapes to local co-ops and larger houses, Bertrand Gautherot started producing Champagne under his own name in 2001, following his friend Anselme Selosse's advice. His 5.5ha vineyards are located in the village of Buxières-sur-Arce, in the Côte des Bar, at 70km to the northeast of Chablis. The domaine three parcels, Vouette, Sorbée and Biaunes, lie on Kimmeridgian marl and Portlandian limestone soils that are similar to the soils found in premier and grand cru vineyards in Chablis. The vineyards are farmed in biodynamic viticulture and average vine age is over 20 years.
Varietals
Chardonnay
About Appellation
One of the first mentions of vines in the region was made by Saint Remigius, the Bishop of Reims who baptised the King of the Franks Clovis I in 496, who listed in his testament a vineyard in the suburb of Reims. Much has been written about the key roles of Dom Pierre Pérignon (1638-1715), a Benedictine monk at Hautvilliers Abbey, and Frère Jean Oudart (1654-1742), from Saint-Pierre-aux-Monts Abbey in Pierry, in the development of Champagne as we know today. In 1690, 'Champagne Wines' were first mentioned to designate sparkling wines of the region, and it was also the first time in France that a wine was identified as produce from a specific region. Today, the vineyards covers 34,300ha in four sub-regions, Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar. Within the three first sub-regions, there are 17 Grand Cru communes. While the main grape varieties are pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, four other varietals are also used in some blends, arbane, petit meslier, pinot blanc and pinot gris (known locally as fromenteau).
Tasting Notes
Enticing nose of white orchard fruits, citrus peel, brioche, crushed stones and white flowers, rich mouthfeel with smooth texture, remarkable tension and excellent depth, multilayered flavours of green apple, confit lemon, pink grapefruit, bergamot orange, almond and faint hints of honey liberally laced with chalky undertones, lively acidity and refined bubbles carrying through a long, zesty finish. In the heart of pinot noir territory, Bertrand Gautherot took the bold decision in 2000 to plant his tiny west-facing parcel in Biaunes with chardonnay cuttings from Anselme Selosse and Vincent Dauvissat's Valmur grand cru in Chablis, to produce this Blanc d'Argile cuvée. And the result is just sensational. Cloaking its majestic substance in ethereal finesse, it's an utterly beautiful wine that exudes at every single sip vivacious energy, vibrant minerality and mouthwatering freshness, not to mention the alluring purity of fruit that glides seamlessly throughout the aftertaste. (08/2024)