Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne Brut NV

Description

Alexandre Chartogne is one of Champagne’s brightest young talents – his pure, energetic wines are well on the way to setting a new regional standard. This producer is based in the northernmost outpost of the Champagne region, seven kilometres north of Reims in Merfy. This is one of a crescent of villages of the Massif de Saint-Thierry, an area that has been planted with vines at least since the time of the Roman Empire. The Benedictine monks of the neighbouring Abbey of Saint-Thierry expanded the vineyards in the 7th century and carefully mapped out the different terroirs.

The Domaine itself dates back to 1920 but it was only as recently as 2006 that things really started to change. Fresh from a stage with Anselme Selosse, Alexandre returned to Chartogne-Taillet with the ideal that the transmission of terroir would come only through careful work in the vineyard. To this end no chemicals, herbicides or insecticides are used, cultivation is only when required, sheep and chickens roam the vineyards and organic compost is used where necessary. All effort is on maximising life in the soil.

In the cellar each parcel is vinified separately. Primary fermentation is wild, and largely in second-hand barriques (although Chartogne has also used concrete eggs for some time). In most cases the base wines are aged for nine months (far longer than most Champagne) before assemblage and tasting. The second fermentation in the bottle is induced using yeasts selected from each specific parcel. Dosage is low and, as Chartogne hones his style, we find it’s in lower proportions each year.

Alexandre Chartogne’s reputation as one of Champagne’s most thoughtful and ambitious growers shows through in his wines.  Notes from importer, Imbibo.

“Meticulous farming, non interventionalist farming and aging in cask are some of the signatures of these deeply personal, expressive Champagnes.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous

“This was already a fantastic house before young Alexandre Chartogne took over from his parents, and now he’s turned the family domaine into one of the iconic [wineries] of the modern Champagne movement. A disciple of Selosse, Chartogne follows the same non-interventionist ways to produce exceedingly vinous Champagnes from his home village of Merfy.” Rajat Parr, The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste

Named for the patron saint of Merfy, this comes from mature parcels of vines in Merfy and Saint-Thierry, planted between 1970 and 2009. These diverse, sand-rich limestone terroirs contribute to the wine’s vibrancy and finesse. Each plot is vinified separately and blended to ensure site expression takes centre stage. Based on 2021, the latest release comprises 50% Chardonnay and a 50% split between Pinot Noir and Meunier. It was raised predominantly in old oak barrels of various sizes, with a small proportion in stainless steel. Reserve wine makes up 50% of the blend, and the dosage is 2.5 g/L. Antonio Galloni has described this perennial overachiever as “one of the very best values in the world of wine, sparkling or not”. Enough said?

“Beautiful whiffs of lemon curd, dried apple, cinnamon, sea spray, fino sherry, lime and brioche with light honeyed characters. Quite a bit of concentration, very briny and minerally at its core, lots more dried apple and lemon curd with licks of that fino sherry in the mix too. Creamy texture cut with crisp bubble, ticklish and energetic and long-lasting. Richness inherent. Complex and charismatic Champagne.” 94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

This is such beautifully bright and focused Champagne, with incredible purity balance and complexity.

RRP $147   *Our Special Price $109.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine*