Reviews
- Wine Spectator -
Technical Details
- 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir
- Sebastien Walasiak
- France
- Champagne
- Vallée de la Marne
- Champagne
- Chouilly, Cramant, Avenay-Val-D’Or, Bisseuil, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Rilly-la-Montagne and Tauxières
- Certified Sustainable
- 12.5%
- 500 cases
Champagne Collet Esprit Couture Brut 2014
Certified Sustainable
42% OFF RETAIL!
Champagne Collet has rare access to more than 600 acres of Grand and Premier Cru vineyards across Champagne – that is, some of the top rated villages with the greatest quality of grapes. And yet, winemaker Sebastien Walasiak doesn’t use more than 10% of the total vineyard yields in order to produce the most consistent and exceptional possible Champagnes year after year. He is a master blender, fine-tuning his cuvees to exude concentration and power, and showcasing Champagne Collet’s signature lightly structured, immaculately balanced, and wonderfully complex wines that are a dream to enjoy with food.
A group of 75 grape growers in Champagne’s village of Aÿ bound together in 1921 to create Champagne Collet, later helping to found the Champagne growers’ alliance, COGEVI. Previously, in 1911, these same growers joined the Revolt Champenoise, a movement to assert growers’ rights and protect Champagne’s legitimacy from fraudulent products and unregulated practices. From its inception, this has been a house clearly rooted in authenticity and committed to producing Champagnes that genuinely express the unique terroir where their grapes were grown.
This 2014 Esprit Couture takes a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, aging for at least five years on the lees. The effect is elegantly spicy, nutty, and toasty, with a bright core of lime zest, apricot, and plum jam-coated biscuits, rounded out by notes of toasted hazelnut, buttery croissants, soft nougat, and a spray of saline. This is thoughtful, rich, and heady, with a soft mousse and strong mineral undertones. An utter delight both with food and without, and a showing of some truly outstanding handiwork. This is just so good that you’ll definitely want more than one, and you’ll be glad to have extra! Only 10 cases available, so make haste!
PAIRING IDEAS: One of my all-time favorite pairings in the world is Champagne and curry – and this easy curry salmon is one of our family’s staples that would be seriously dreamy alongside this yummy Champagne.