Jolivettes grand cru 2018 (Champagne Nicolas Maillart)

Cellar for up to 10 years. Serve chilled. The Maillart family have a noble history of grape growing which dates back to at least the 1500s. Nicolas Maillart is the ninth generation to enter the family business, taking over the reins in 2003 after completing his engineering and enology studies. Today he has a deserved reputation for exceptional Grower Champagnes from the family’s 16 hectares of Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims. This masterful Grand Cru begins life in the 0.6 hectare Jolivettes vineyard in the town of Bouzy which has a reputation for making some of Champagne’s finest Pinot Noir. Nicolas farms this single vineyard organically and biodynamically to give him the very best quality raw ingredients to work with in the winery. The must is fermented using wild yeasts in small oak barrels and left on the lees for 8 months. It is then transferred to bottle and matures for another three years on the lees before disgorging. Powerful and terroir-focused, this magnificent Grand Cru has the clear markers of Jolivettes’ excellent chalk soils in the crisp acidity, purity and streak of minerality which is carefully balanced aby ripe red fruit notes. This is a Champagne which will evolve beautifully over the coming decade, and is also ideal to enjoy now alongside mature cheeses, fresh seafood and heartier dishes like black truffle risotto.