Proudly imported and distributed in NZ by The Village Winery:
Champagne Jean-Louis Vergnon is a 'Membre de l'Association des Artisans du Champagne' & served at many excellent, & Michelin starred restaurants.
"Christophe Constant has brought this classy Mesnil producer back on to the scene after a few years of uninteresting efforts. No malolactic fermentation for the vintage wine, which comes from forty-year-old vines. Confidence is a very pure and young wine strongly influenced by minerals and with an intense village character. There is no element of flirtatiousness in it. Instead one can calmly lean back and await the effects of storage in the far distant future. Upgraded to 4 stars." - Richard Juhlin, Champagne Guide
“Christophe Constant has put a highly personal stamp on this domaine, creating wines of intense expression and vivid personality. His champagnes are always racy and tense, characterized by their prominent malic acidities, yet they’re rarely aggressive, achieving a carefully judged and finely tuned harmony. This is one of the top estates in the Côte des Blancs today. – Peter Liem, Champagneguide.net
♦ Core vineyards are Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Chardonnay
♦ Also prime holdings in Avize, Oger, Vertus and Villeneuve
♦ Old vines – average is 40 years
♦ Harvests ripe grapes, eliminates the need to chaptalise
♦ Uses lower dosage
♦ Intense and tensile wines
♦ Try serving at 12 C in a wide glass
♦ Patience in further post release cellaring (3 yrs +) will reward greatly
ELOQUENCE Extra Brut NV
- Blend: Base from one vintage with 20 % of reserve wine added
- Growths: 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from Mesnil/Oger, Oger, Avize
- Wine making: Stainless steel tanks and 3g/l dosage, just 15,000 bottles made.
- Ageing: More than 3 years in our cellars
The golden green colour is relevant of a light evolution of the wine. The fizz is fine and regular and draws a light ring of bubbles on the surface. The general appearance is fresh and calm.
The first noise is expressive and fresh. Aromas are a mix of grapefruit, wheat, biscuits with hints of honey that confirms the start of the wine ageing process. Then, the smell goes deeper towards cooked pear, and almond paste. After few minutes in the flute, very racy aromas of grilled almonds, mushrooms and minerality (chalk) confirm the fineness and delicacy of this wine.
The mouth attack is sharp and opens on a wonderful acidity that stretches the wine up to the final. The texture is unctuous despite the low addition of sugar, because the mouth has a personality. The result is stretched with the right touch of fat. Just before the ending a light sensation of warmth gives the signature of the base year.
The final is long and reveals aromas of almonds, rice paste and chalk with impression of saltiness at the very end.
This is a racy wine with stamina. Unpretentious, it expresses the quality of its growth and is beautifully pure.
Excellent for the aperitif, easily pleased with shaped parmesan.
