André Clouet Spiritum 96 Rosé

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

“Rosés are usually enjoyed while they are still young and fresh, but I was looking for that complexity and fullness that exceptional wines acquire only after a very long maturation. I didn’t want to offer a rosé that had merely aged well… I wanted to combine the freshness and youth of a rosé wine with the essence of a great Vintage. The key element in accomplishing this feat was going to be the liqueur!”

Jean-François Clouet

Spiritum blends the essence of a great Vintage with the freshness of a vibrant Rosé. It took months and countless trials to find the perfect balance for this liqueur, prepared with a 1996 Grand Cru Vintage from our Bouzy vineyards. A very low concentration, half that of a classic liqueur — 300 grams per liter instead of the 600 grams per liter usual in Champagne — meant that a higher proportion of the Vintage could be added to the finished rosé. Spiritum is a magic show for the senses, with the liqueur as the wand that sparks this alchemy, combining the freshness of the rosé wine with the essence of one of the greatest vintages of the last century.

Classification AOC Champagne GRAND CRU

Alcohol 12,92% Vol. Total Acidity 4,17 g H2SO4/L Volatile Acidity 0,25 g H2SO4/L Pressure 6,3 bar Available in 75 cl Bottling 9 July 2020 Dosage 7,1 g/L

Blend: Pinot Noir Grand Cru 88% Rouge de Bouzy 2019 9% Liqueur Spiritum 1996 ≈3%

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

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

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Soil Types

Vineyard Aspect

Map showing dominant varieties planted in Champagne