Chartogne-Taillet 'Hors Serie' Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2018

Chartogne-Taillet 'Hors Serie' Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2018

Chartogne-Taillet remains the only RM producer in the village and under Alexandre Chartogne’s guidance, the wines of Chartogne-Taillet are some of the most sought-after Champagnes being produced. Alexandre worked with Anslem Selosse, who he describes as “my wine father”, returning home in 2006. The first wine that he produced was the 2006 vintage of Les Barres, a very special parcel of ungrafted Meunier, planted in 1952. The soil in this parcel is sand for almost 3 meters before the roots reach the chalk bedrock, allowing the vines “to live in two environments.

Champagne Chartogne-Taillet is a highly-regarded Champagne house situated in Montagne de Reims, close to the city of Reims. It cultivates a total of 11 hectares (27 acres) of vineyards in the village of Merfy, planted to four grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Arbane.

The estate traces its origins back to the 15th Century, when the Talliet family began growing vines in Merfy. Champagne Chartogne-Taillet is still family-owned today and has been managed by Alexandre Chartogne-Taillet since 2006.

The Merfy vineyards are divided into 13 distinct parcels that occupy a combination of clay and sand soils. Alexandre Chartogne-Taillet uses organic farming methods in his vineyards and has abandoned the application of man-made herbicides.

Grapes are harvested by hand and after pressing and fermentation with natural yeasts, the wines are aged for between 8-18 months in stainless-steel tanks, oak barrels or cement eggs. These wines are bottled without filtration, with the entire winemaking process taking place at the estate.

The Chartogne-Taillet portfolio comprises Extra Brut, Brut, Rosé and Blanc de Blancs champagnes, as well as a range of single-vineyard, varietal Champagnes from vineyard parcels such as Les Barres (Pinot Meunier), Les Orizeaux (Pinot Noir) and Heurtebise (Chardonnay).