2021 SancerreDaniel Chotard
France | Loire
$39
Producers
The village of Vertus is famous for its Chardonnay—here the long hillside known as the Côte des Blancs takes a turn, giving vines planted on the slope above a southern exposure. More sunshine is crucial in a region where the climate does not favor full ripening every year. From this noteworthy terroir, Veuve Fourny brings us a clean, chiseled style—Chardonnay married with pure chalk and barrel aging. A telltale freshness and finesse complement a nutty richness and delicate, creamy texture—the result of the terroir, the meticulous élevage, and five years on its lees. Enjoy this stellar Champagne today and for many more years.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | sparkling |
Vintage: | 2013 |
Bottle Size: | 1.5L |
Blend: | Chardonnay |
Appellation: | Vertus |
Country: | France |
Region: | Champagne |
Producer: | Veuve Fourny & Fils |
Winemaker: | Charles and Emmanuel Fourny |
Vineyard: | 50 years average, .80 ha |
Soil: | Chalk, Limestone |
Aging: | Ages for at least 5 years in bottle before release |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 12% |
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
True Champagne must not only sparkle, but also must come from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France and be made using méthode champenoise—a process that involves prolonged aging of the wine as well as a bottle fermentation used to add the sparkle to the finished product. Though wine has been made in this region since at least the 5th century, Champagne as we now know is a relatively new creation. It wasn’t until the 19th century that sparkling wine production took hold on a large scale in much part due to improvements in the strength of glass for bottles and the embrace of French nobility of the sparkling wines of the region.
Only three grape varieties may be used to make Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The chalk-heavy soils not only provide complexity and texture to the finished wine, but also act as a natural humidifier thus keeping the vine’s roots warm during colder months of the year. There are grand cru and premier cru designated vineyard areas but unlike Burgundy, there are few lieu-dit vineyards (though in recent years there has been a greater interest in producing vineyard specific Champagnes).
Kermit’s first foray into the region came in 1981 when he began importing the wines of J. Lassalle and Paul Bara—two producers whose wines we still import. In the mid 2000s, Kermit began importing the wines of Veuve Fourny et Fils.
Of Champagne, Kermit says, “You might be surprised to learn that I don’t like a goût de terroir to dominate the taste of Champagnes. If it dominates, you lose finesse. I want some, obviously—but only enough to keep things interesting.”
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
J. Lassalle France | Champagne | Chigny-Les-Roses
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
J. Lassalle France | Champagne | Chigny-Les-Roses
Paul Bara France | Champagne | Bouzy
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Paul Bara France | Champagne | Bouzy
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Paul Bara France | Champagne | Bouzy
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne | Vertus
Paul Bara France | Champagne | Bouzy
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Inspiring Thirst, page 211
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