Vazart-Coquart & Fils | Champagne | AD 191 Extra Brut, Blanc de Blancs Chouilly Grand Cru | 2016 | 750ml

Description

Product description for Vazart-Coquart & Fils AD 191 Extra Brut, Blanc de Blancs Chouilly Grand Cru 2016

A perfect balance of ripeness and freshness! “AD” is an abbreviation for “Anno Domini,” but in this case, the name of the champagne has nothing to do with a year. “AD 191” are the cadastral coordinates of the La Cerisière parcel in the Grand Cru Chouilly. It’s a parcel that Jean-Pierre Vazart has been enthusiastically tasting for years and first matured individually in 2016. It’s small, and the champagne is rare, not least because of the seasonal nature of the year. Just 1,640 bottles were produced. The parcel was already farmed organically back then, but unlike today, it wasn’t certified. The soil is chalky and calcareous with a shallow depth, and the Chardonnay vines are already “old vineyards” and provide a very good foundation for this single-vineyard champagne. 2016 initially developed into a difficult vintage. The late frosts were relentless, destroying large portions of the fruit buds in April. From May to July, there were heavy rains, and in July, warm and dry weather finally set in, temperatures rose, and in August, a heatwave even swept across the region. Shortly before the harvest, there was more rain, and the harvest fell by about a third, especially among the larger, more inflexible producers. Vazart-Coquart was better positioned and was able to bring few, but very good, grapes to the winery. The base wine of the 2016 “Parcellaire AD 191” Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut was aged in steel tanks and subjected to malolactic fermentation. After the bottles were placed “sur lattes” for the second fermentation in May 2017, they were riddled in May 2023 and finally disgorged with 1 gram of dosage in June 2023. The champagne presents itself with an intense copper color. After the initial wild effervescence, the perlage becomes very fine, both in the glass and on the palate. The bouquet is inviting and seductive, testifying to a Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs that has had time to mature. White nougat and warm puff pastry with a vanilla cream filling, along with ripe citrus notes with candied orange peel and a hint of candied ginger, paired with a slightly iodine and chalky note. You’d actually want to linger longer in this fragrance, but on the other hand, you’d also like to taste it – and that’s just as much fun! It’s a ripe yet fresh, silky yet exciting champagne that captures all the delicious aromas of the bouquet and blends them with the aforementioned fine perlage, but also with a very subtle sweetness and lively minerality. Here, you can taste even more nougat, or even warm croissants with almond and tonka cream filling. Added to this are ripe citrus notes and some juicy stone fruit, chalky aspects, and a very fine extract that lingers into the long finish. The result is a blend of freshness and fullness, vibrancy and charm, making this vintage champagne something truly special. A champagne for now and the next six to eight years.

About the Champagne

Grown in Chouilly in the La Cerisière plot, 100% Chardonnay, bottled in the 2016 vintage. Disgorged in January 2025 with a dosage of 1g/l.

Color/Appearance

Light golden yellow/very fine mousse.

Nose

The Brut Réserve AD 191 Blanc de Blancs Chouilly Grand Cru has an elegant aroma of minerality, stony notes, and bright fruit. In addition to quince, firm pear, and lemon, there are notes of green apple and star fruit. A cool and elegant aroma introduces the perfect aperitif.

Palate

Juicy and intoxicating on the palate, with a salty hint and delicate carbonation dancing across the tongue. A champagne that seduces with its finesse yet taut intensity. Crystalline, crystal-clear – invigorating, a true discovery that turns out to be not only a palate opener but also a fantastic food companion!

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Keywords: Vazart-Coquart & Fils AD 191 Extra Brut, Blanc de Blancs Chouilly Grand Cru 2016 Champagne France

Producer website: https://www.champagnevazartcoquart.com/