Champagne de Castellane
19th August 2014
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Brut
The Brut perfectly encapsulates the “de Castellane style”. A subtle marriage of elegance and pleasure. The winemakers’ attachement to the long tradition of the House’s quality is reflected in this wine and illustrates the richness and finesse of its style.
Blending
A balanced blend of the three champagne grapes (35% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier) to which around 15% reserve wine is added to guarantee consistency. The wine is aged for a minimum of 24 months to ensure structure and freshness.
Winemaking & Ageing
After a maturation in the cellars at a temperature of 10°C for a minimum of 24 months, the Brut is disgorged and the dosage (9-10 g/l of sugar) is added by using a liquor made from a base of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. After dosage, the champagne is left to rest for a further 3 months in bottle before release.
Tasting notes
Pale gold in colour, with a fine, generous mousse. On the nose, notes of white flowers, fresh fruit compote and hints of brioche give the wine its elegance and finesse. On the palate, there are hints of vanilla, white fruits and gingerbread.
Serving Suggestion
A great match throughout the meal, the Brut will pair well with simple dishes and will also enhance more sophisticated foods. It is also an ideal aperitif for a drinks party or reception.
Brut Rosé
The Brut Rosé is rich and generous, pleasing to the eye, nose and palate, offering a wide spectrum of aromas and colours. It is a perfect illustration of the magic of blending wines from different soils and different varieties to reveal the complexity of taste and colours.
Blending
The Brut Rosé is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier and 30% Chardonnay. Added to this, is around 15-17% of red wine (depending on the year) from the top Pinot Noir villages.
Winemaking & Ageing
The wines selected to become the Brut Rosé are bottled after around 5 months in vats and are then matured for between 24-30 months in the cellards until disgorgement. The dosage is then added (a mixture of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) and the bottles are left to rest for a further 3 months before release.
Tasting notes
The Brut Rosé has a delicate salmon pink colour. The nose is fruity and floral, complex and elegant with subtle notes of strawberry and redcurrant. On the palate, the wine is well balanced by freshness and roundness, with hints of forest fruits and strawberry compote.
Serving Suggestion
The Brut Rosé should ideally be served at around 10°C as an aperitif on a friendly evening. It can accompany savoury dishes such as salmon but also works very well with summer fruit puddings such as strawberry tart, fruit salad and sorbet
Brut Millésimé 2004 2002
The expression of a great year
Blending
Only the greatest years produce a “de Castellane” vintage, which celebrate the finesse of the Brut, thanks to the selection of the best grapes from the 2004 vintage. The blend composition of the 2004 vintage is made from: 45% Pinot Noir (Hautvillers, Aÿ, Bouzy, Mareuil sur Aÿ,…) 55% Chardonnay (Cramant, Avize, Mesnil sur Oger, Cuis,…)
Winemaking & Ageing
The wine is aged for more than four years on horizontal shelves in the cellars. After this period, the wine is then disgorged and the dosage is added, made from a base of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Tasting notes
Beautiful golden colour with green-gold hues and a lively, fine mousse. The nose is complex, opening with candied fruits (peach and quince) and evolving to notes of vanilla and brioche. The elegant palate has a fine acidity and a great opulence, thanks to the quality of the grapes and the long ageing. There is a wide spectrum of flavours, from peaches and pears in syrup, to finish on notes of citrus fruit. A beautifully balanced champagne with a long finish which will give great drinking pleasure.
Serving Suggestion
Served around 10°C, it will be a perfect match for a Tournedos Rossini, chicken in cream sauce or hard rind chesses.
Demi-Sec
All the sweetness of drinking champagne can be found in the Demi-Sec
Blending
Made from all three champagne grapes, the Demi-Sec is dominated by the Pinot Noir (40%) and completed with some Chardonnay (30%) and some Pinot Meunier (30%). The dosage (comprised of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) is much higher than for the Brut with 38g/l of sugar.
Winemaking & Ageing
Bottling takes place after 5 months in vats, after which the bottles mature for a further 24 months in the cellars at a temperature between 11°C and 12°C.
Tasting notes
A striking, yellow gold colour. The nose is redolent of white flowers, rose, peach, cinnamon and hazelnut. The palate is smooth and rich with hints of peach, spice and compote fruits.
Serving Suggestion
An ideal champagne to partners sweet/sour dishes or to match with desserts such as fruit tart or ice-cream. The Demi-Sec is a perfect opportunity for the “gourmands” to re-discover the pleasure of a refined light meal around a “crêpe Suzette” or a dessert.
Glass of Bubbly
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