Côte des Blancs, Champagne, FranceAfter working as a sommelier in London and an aerospace engineer in Paris, Stéphane Regnault returned to his family's Côte des Blancs domaine in 2007 and converted farming to organics with biodynamic practices. The domaine includes four hectares of Chardonnay divided equally between the legendary chalk terroirs of the Grand Cru villages Oger and Le Mesnil. The majority of the vines are between 40 and 60 years old. A passionate jazz saxophone player, he has named his three single-vineyard cuvées after a different jazz mode that each wine reminds him of. This comes from the east-facing, slight slopes of Le Moulin in the Grand Cru Oger and its soft, chalk soils. This bottle was based in 2015, with 15% from 2014 (the start of the solera). Half the final wine was done in stainless, with 35% in barrel, with full MLF. This was disgorged in July 2020 with 1 g/L. This is his smallest cuvée, with 2500 bottles produced. Now showing prominent bottle age, with a toasty caramelized sheen over green apple, wet chalk, brioche, braced with a strong backbone of chardy acidity. The finish shimmers, leaving a trail of salinity. Showing lovely bottle evolution, though I will look for a fresher release next time out.Tasted: 21 July 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Côte des Blancs, Champagne, FranceAfter working as a sommelier in London and an aerospace engineer in Paris, Stéphane Regnault returned to his family's Côte des Blancs domaine in 2007 and converted farming to organics with biodynamic practices. The domaine includes four hectares of Chardonnay divided equally between the legendary chalk terroirs of the Grand Cru villages Oger and Le Mesnil. The majority of the vines are between 40 and 60 years old. A passionate jazz saxophone player, he has named his three single-vineyard cuvées after a different jazz mode that each wine reminds him of. This comes from the east-facing, slight slopes of Le Moulin in the Grand Cru Oger and its soft, chalk soils. This bottle was based in 2015, with 15% from 2014 (the start of the solera). Half the final wine was done in stainless, with 35% in barrel, with full MLF. This was disgorged in July 2020 with one g/L. This is his smallest cuvée, with 2500 bottles produced. Brioche, lemon and red/green apple open this chiselled, savoury-edged wine, imbued with chalk and lashed with marine salinity. Structural, tight, and fresh, with a fantastic presence and length. Worth seeking out.Tasted: 30 August 2022Tasted by: Prices:
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