New
75cl
Champagne Etienne Calsac L'Echappee Belle Extra Brut
Vendor code : 600
The talented Etienne Calsac stands out among the producers of the Côte de Blanc region. His sharp and pure Chardonnay-based Champagne is an exceptional interpretation of the chalky terroir surrounding Avize. Only 30,000 bottles of this Champagne are produced each year. Etienne's main objective is to create champagnes that convey their location, respecting the soil and the vineyards. By switching to organic methods, Etienne Calsac refuses to use pesticides and herbicides in the vineyards. For several years, his mission has been to bring forgotten grape varieties back to Champagne, resulting in the planting of Pinot Blanc, Arbane, and Petit Meslier vines. These terroir Champagnes from Etienne Calsac have become part of the wine list of France's top restaurants.
Color
White
Fortress
12%
Country
France
Grape
Chardonnay
Region
Champagne
Producer
Champagne Etienne Calsac
For fans of Blanc de Blancs, we would like to present one of our discoveries: Champagne Etienne Calsac L'echappee Belle Extra Brut. Chalky terroir is embedded in the DNA of this Blanc de Blancs. Steely, sharp, electric, L'echappee Belle undergoes spontaneous fermentation. No filtration. Barrels (20%) and stainless steel vats. Reserve wines are used. The dosage is 2 g/litre. Chardonnay predominantly from Premier Cru vineyards in Côte de Blanc, Grauves. Etienne Calsac L'echappee Belle's youthful and leisurely unfolding aroma is filled with hints of flowers, herbs, peach, and toasted toast, with a subtle mineral accord.
Etienne Calsac, the new and young face of Champagne in the Côte de Blanc, is part of a circle of young artisan vignerons who are giving Champagne a new face through attention to quality, modern style, absolute respect for the vineyard and expressiveness of terroir. At the age of around 26, Etienne took over the family House and today manages 2.8 hectares of 30-year-old vines from three different villages, Avize and Grauves in the Côte de Blanc and Bisseu in the Vallée de la Marne. Etienne Calsac also owns a small plot in Clos de Sezanne, planted with three rare varieties, and Clos in Avize, which is particularly rare in the Champagne region. Etienne's philosophy is realized mainly in the vineyard, where absolute respect for the ecosystem and the soil allows him to create wines full of territoriality, synthesizing all the characteristics of the soil. As Etienne says, the roots of the vine penetrate deeply into the soil in search of nutrients that give the grapes their unique nuances of origin. This is why each plot is vinified separately, to achieve maximum territorial expression and thus highlight the differences between the various sub-zones. Etienne Calsac attaches great importance to the vineyard, putting it at the center of his project and considering it the main ingredient for the creation of a good Champagne. He uses a horse to plow the land, adopts advanced cultivation techniques, and forbids the use of any synthetic substances that destroy the vitality of the soil. In the cellar, Etienne controls every stage - from pressing to alcoholic and malolactic fermentation (which sometimes takes place in wood) - and assembles his wines like a jigsaw puzzle, putting together the best cuvées with harmony and personality. Etienne Calsac's Champagne wines are aged for several years on lees, enriching themselves with structure and personality. They have an elegant, deep, and stylish texture and are perfect for opening now or tasting in a few years for new emotions and interesting evolutions. Perfect for an aperitif, but can also easily go with first and second courses, especially if they are fish-based. A talented and crystalline class of Cote des Blancs!
Reviews from critics
0/100
0 points
95-100
0
90-94
0
85-89
0
80-84
0
75-79
0
0-74
0
No reviews yet