Product information

André Clouet Chalky NV

Chardonnay from Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, Champagne

$127

$122ea in any 3+
$117ea in any 6+
Closure: Cork
A Blanc de Blanc from the Pinot Master of Bouzy!

Description

Chalk soils have long been considered one of the key resources enabling the Champagne region to produce such intense and refined wines. Aiming to highlight this relationship, Andre Clouet have released a new wine in their range further dialing up the crisp and salty flavours so prevalent in wines from these chalk rich soils.

A 100% Chardonnay cuvee, this initial release of “Chalky” is entirely from the outstanding 2013 vintage, with vineyard sources one third from the southern slopes of the Montagne de Reims, and two thirds on the Cote de Blancs.

After pressing, fermentation takes place in small stainless steel tanks before being aged for seven years in the bottle, disgorged early in 2021 with 6g/L dosage. Expect a lively, salty, mineral inflected wine that is a perfect aperitif or wine to drink alongside fresh oysters.

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Check out all of the wines by André Clouet

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Bouzy and Ambonnay are the epicentre of Pinot Noir in Champagne, and the Clouet family is the priviledged custodian of eight hectares of estate vines in the best middle slopes of both villages.  These are rich and concentrated expressions of pinot noir, wines of deep complexity, multi faceted interest and engaging character, yet with remarkable restraint and sense of control.  Recent tastings confirm my impression that this small and relatively unknown grower ranks high among Champagne’s finest practitioners of pinot noir – and expresses one of the best value of all.

I just can’t get enough of it — especially at this price. The Andre Clouet grande reserve brut is a delicious wine made from 100 per cent pinot noir with all the richness and definition that variety offers. There’s plenty of fine bead, red fruits mingled with citrus, and earthy, warm spice (think star anise and cinnamon), zesty and dry on the finish. It builds on the palate and is quite voluptuous , almost full-bodied for champagne, and, while aricher aperitif, this is much, much better with food. JANE FAULKNER, The Age Epicure

Having worked in Champagne, seen behind the closed doors I know a fair few of the tricks of the trade. It’s refreshing when you come across someone like Jean-Francois Clouet who will openly discuss the tricks and is willing to stand by his wines. I explore the exceptional and ugly in the Wine Bites Mag article “Vintage 1998 Champagne Devaux, Bur-sur-Seine and Les Gras et Haas, Chouilly in the Côte des Blancs”

It’s fair to say Jean-Francois Clouet was born in a bath of Pinot, suckled on Blanc de Noir, and, grew up pour it on his corn flakes! His family was making wine a decade before Möet et Chandon’s Dom Perignon. Not long ago Bollinger rang to “enquire” read complain about Clouet’s labels ripping off their designs. After a quick look it turned out to be the other way around by decades!

 

 

Where in Champagne are Clouet’s Vineyards

Based in Bouzy with vineyards in both Bouzy and Ambonnay. The villages rest to the south of Reims and north of Épernay. Clouet is a Pinot master! Bouzy is home to many of the best Pinot growing sites in Champagne.

The map below shows the main sub-regions of Champagne

Click to enlarge🔎

From left to right Champagne vineyards by Soil Type, Aspect and Dominant Varietal

Click on a map to enlarge🔎

Soil Types
Vineyard Aspect
Map showing dominant varieties planted in Champagne

Where in the world does the magic happen?

Champagne André Clouet, Rue Gambetta, Bouzy, France

Montagne de Reims
Côte des Blancs
Champagne

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André Clouet Silver Brut Nature NV

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Zero dosage wines have nowhere to hide! They simply must stand on their own two feet! The depth of fruit flows full length of your tongue finding it's way through juicy mineral acid of great length. The incredible purity of the wine is strikes instantly. As it warms a little the expression of Pinot comes through and you realise just how necessary the acid is in order to tame the rich fruit. Available in Magnum!
$95
$91ea in any 3+
$87ea in any 6+
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One of the greatest rosé wines of Champagne and a wine of haunting finesse. The blend is 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay with 60% coming from the great 2014 vintage and 40% vins de réserve (split almost equally between 2013 and 2012). Then there is the 5% of Egly’s Coteaux Champenois Rouge that gives the wine its colour and a great deal of character as well. Dosage is a negligible 3g/l. The fruit is from 100% Grand Cru vines, grown by one of the most meticulous vignerons of the region
$342
$332ea in any 3+
$322ea in any 6+
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Precise & Delicious!
The Very First Release of Rosé from the Brut Nature Collaboration with Phillipe Starck! Kicking off with 2012! The 2012 Brut Nature Rosé is rich, explosive and pulsing with energy. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon adds an infusion of 25% cold soaked Pinot Noir into the same base wine as the 2012 Brut Nature, an approach that works beautifully in bringing out the energy and focus that make Champagnes from Cumières so distinctive. Even with all of its power, the 2012 is delicate, airy and
$180
$175ea in any 3+
$170ea in any 6+
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