75cl
Champagne Vazart-Coquart 82/17 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut
Vendor code : 1581
The name of Vazart-Coquart's top cuvée, 82/17, might initially sound technical. What does it mean? The answer is simple: every aspect has been carefully considered. When Jean-Pierre Vazart took over the domaine in 1982, he began filling the Chardonnay tank with fruit from his eleven hectares of Grand Cru vineyards in Chouilly. The vines, averaging 44 years of age, have been organically cultivated since 2015. That same year, he set aside 40% of the harvest in a tank, which eventually became the foundation for the Réserve Perpétuelle—commonly referred to as Solera in the sherry region. Jean-Pierre used this particular Solera to craft 82/17, which now includes 35 vintages, spanning from 1982 to 2017. It serves as a quintessential expression of his dedication and craftsmanship.
Color
White
Country
France
Grape
Chardonnay
Region
Champagne
Fortress
12,3%
Producer
Champagne Vazart-Coquart
Champagne Vazart-Coquart 82/17 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru requires only 1 g/l of dosage, making it an extra-brut that could also be labeled Brut Nature. No oxidative style is present here; instead, this Champagne, crafted from a perpetual reserve, exudes remarkable freshness while offering exceptional depth. The aroma reveals yuzu, lemon, yellow grapefruit, brioche, and a hint of sea salt. On the palate, the focus is on finesse, enhanced by the richness of extended yeast aging. This Champagne is far more than just an aperitif; it is the perfect companion to a meal.
The Vazart family has been growing grapes in Chouilly since 1785. Louis and Jacques Vazart first bottled their own wines in 1950. Since 1995, the domaine has been managed by Jean-Pierre Vazart, an experienced professional who began using the so-called Réserve Perpétuelle—also known as Solera—while still working alongside his father. For nearly 40 years, the Vazarts have been extracting 40% of the Solera’s contents each year and replenishing it with the same amount of wine from the current vintage, blending wines from as many as 40 vintages. However, due to the requirement that all wine be certified to achieve organic status, Jean-Pierre can no longer use the Solera from the 2020 vintage onward. Although the Solera has served not only as a reserve for non-vintage wines but also for bottling his finest cuvées, Jean-Pierre has decided to phase it out in favor of organic certification or reclassification. Like all his base wines, the Solera is aged in stainless steel tanks. Jean-Pierre does not use oak barrels, believing that stainless steel better suits the style of Chouilly, as it emphasizes precision and clarity. By contrast, in villages such as Le Mesnil and Avize, the chalky minerality is often better expressed through aging in oak barrels.
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