91POINTS
16¾/20
Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée n° 744 Extra-Brut NV
Champagne, FranceChampagne Jacquesson was founded in 1798 by Memmi Jacquesson and was a house favourited by Napoleon, who bestowed it a gold medal for its cellars. The winery has been innovative initially, instituting the radical notion of training vines in rows with Dr. Guyot's collaboration and patenting the muselet, the wire cage that holds the cork in place. However, the real innovation began in 1978, when the Chiquet family purchased the house, and brothers Jean-Hervé and Laurent spend the next ten years campaigning to their father to do something radically different, from the structure of the company to vineyard management. In 2000 they took a bigger risk and announced the 700 series. This numbered, vintage-based cuvée began with ‘728’, represented by the 2000 vintage. Rather than making a consistent NV wine every year, they aim to make the best possible blend for each vintage. Each year, a new-subsequently numbered-cuvée is released, maths meaning this current release 744 is from 2016. This was harvested from Ay, Dizy and Hautvillers (55%), Avize and Oiry (45%), with 30% reserve wines blended in, and blends 45% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier, and 35% Pinot Noir, vinified in oak barrels before heading to bottle for 3+ years. This was disgorged with December 2020 with no dosage. Deep and heady, with vegetal and oxidative notes woven throughout red apple, toast, lemon rind, and chalk, streaking with a lemon pith salinity on the finish. All a bit of elbows at the moment, this will benefit from a little time in the cellar, and partnering with protein.Tasted: 27 December 2022Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:BC | $110.00 | 750ml | private wine stores |
Blend: Chardonnay - Pinot Meunier - Pinot Noir