What's Pressoir Drinking

Recap of Pressoir.wine Tasting
The styles of Champagne

July 29,2021
by Justine Puaud & Edouard Bourgeois

We were very pleased with the lineup of wines that really showed the beautiful diversity one can find in these delicious bubbles.

BLANC DE BLANCS

Jacques Lassaigne Colline Inspirée Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
Leclerc-Briant Blanc de Blancs
Flavien Nowack Blanc de Blancs La Tuilerie
Doyard Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 2012
Laherte Frères Les Grandes Crayères Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs 2016

BLANC DE NOIRS

Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Orizeaux Extra Brut
Champagne Pierre Paillard Les Maillerettes Bouzy Grand Cru
Flavien Nowack Blanc de Meuniers La Fontinette 2016
Vouette et Sorbée Brut Nature Fidele (R17) NV
Francis Boulard Brut Nature Petraea

ROSÉ

Philipponnat Rosé Reserve
Deutz Brut Rosé Champagne Amour de Deutz 2009
Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Rosé Brut Millesime 2002
Dehours et Fils Oeil de Perdrix Extra-Brut NV
René Geoffroy Rose de Saignée Brut

FOCUS ON 2002 VINTAGE

Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Vintage Brut 2002
Lallier Grand Cru Brut 2002
Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut 2002
Billecart Salmon Cuvée Nicolas Francois Billecart Brut 2002
Pascal Doquet 1er Cru Le Mont Aimé Brut 2002

A few notes from Edouard about Champagne Jacques Lassaigne La Colline Inspirée Montgueux Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs:

I was particularly impressed with this great wine. And more than ever I want to insist on the word "wine". I tasted this Champagne right after popping the cork but also much later, at a stage where the carbonation was completely gone and the temperature rose and was far from optimal. The bottle at that point had been opened for a few hours and I was about to sadly pour the rest of it down the drain but my curiosity inspired me to taste it again. I was shocked by how lively and fresh this Blanc de Blancs remained. The balance was still intact and that Champagne turned into an excellent still white wine, with serious complexity.

Lassaigne is a very respected producer located in a unique part of Champagne, Montgueux, which happens to be just miles from my hometown of Troyes. Emmanuel Lassaigne, the current generation at the domaine, is known for making wines of great tension and vivacity.

A Champagne winemaker I admire once told me that bubbles and dosage (the sugar sometimes added just before bottling) should never be "in the way of the wine" and by no means play the role of "make-up". Well, I guess my experience with that bottle was a great example of that thought since neither added sugar nor carbonation was present.

A few notes from Justine about Laherte Frères Les Grandes Crayères Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs 2016:

I fell in love with this champagne with intense saline flavors, and chalky power on the finish. This plot cuvée is the perfect reflection of a viticulture close to nature and a vinification in wood respecting the character of the fruit.

“Les Grandes Crayeres” comes from two very chalky plots of massale selection vines in the Coteaux Sud d'Epernay with a north exposition. Chalk close to the surface and very little topsoil. Organically farmed. Fermentation takes place in 3-6 year old barrels with light lees stirring and no malolactic fermentation. Bottling occurs in April-May, after 30 months on lees in bottles.

Founded in 1889 by Jean-Baptiste Laherte, the estate was originally made up of vines primarily in the village of Chavot. Fourth generation vigneron Michel Laherte expanded the family estate which then covered about five hectares. With his wife Cécile, the two young vignerons modernized the press and tanks, but soon realized that too much modernity such as the use of herbicides and pesticides would prevent full terroir expression in the wines. They began working the soils, gently vinifying the juices, and remaining humble and patient as the wines developed. This philosophy is the foundation of the estate and has endured through the generations. Today, under the direction of Aurélien Laherte who took over in 2005, the estate has become one of the most progressive and dynamic rising stars in the appellation.