75cl
Champagne Chartogne-Taillet 'Hors Serie' Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Vendor code : 410
Chartogne-Taillet, located in Montagne-de-Reims in the village of Merfy, traces its history back to the 15th century and has remained under family management to this day. The Merfy vineyards are divided into 13 separate plots, which consist of a combination of clay and sandy soils. Alexandre Chartogne-Taillet employs organic farming methods. The grapes are harvested by hand, and after pressing and fermentation with natural yeasts, the wines are aged for 8 to 18 months in stainless steel tanks, oak barrels, or concrete eggs. These wines are bottled without filtration.
Color
White
Fortress
13%
Country
France
Region
Champagne
Grape
Chardonnay
Producer
Champagne Chartogne-Taillet
In 2015, Chartogne-Taillet created a unique cuvée by blending seven barrels of wine from Avize and two from Merfy, resulting in the NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Avize & Merfy Hors Série. This wine captivates with an aromatic palette of candied zest, lemon, beeswax, marzipan, and confectionery. It offers a rich body and complex structure, with a creamy texture and a deep, fruity core balanced by refreshing acidity.
Chartogne-Taillet remains the sole RM producer in the village, and under the guidance of Alexandre Chartogne, their Champagnes have become highly coveted. Alexandre’s approach in the vineyards prioritizes soil health over certifications. He strives to preserve the diversity of soil organisms, a philosophy supported by soil microbiology experts Claude and Lydia Bourguignon. No chemicals, herbicides, or insecticides are used, and half of the vineyards are ploughed by horses. While most of the work is done manually, no official certification is pursued. Sheep and chickens are utilized for fertilization, with a strong emphasis on maintaining soil health. Alexandre firmly believes that the essence of terroir can only be expressed through meticulous vineyard practices.
Reviews from critics
94/100
1 points
95-100
0
90-94
1
85-89
0
80-84
0
75-79
0
0-74
0
Vinous
The 2018 Extra-Brut Hors Série is 100% Chardonnay from villages in the Côtes des Blancs. Aromatic and expressive, the Hors Série also shows all the textural intensity and nuance that are such house signatures here. I find the 2018 a bit less defined and articulate than the other wines in this tasting. Floral, citrus, almond, and orchard notes are nicely amplified. There's a touch more oak influence in the Hors Série, which also suggests a somewhat intrinsically lighter wine. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: March 2023. - By Antonio Galloni on November 2023.