NV Vincent Couche 'Chardonnay de Montueux' Champagne Brut Nature

About the Wine

”A toast to the five best champagnes of 2024, Discovering Vincent Couche’s range of outstanding biodynamic champagnes was a highlight of my tasting year.”

- FINANCIAL REVIEW, MAX ALLEN.

A stunning grower Champagne, made with biodynamic farming methods. The Chardonnay is grown on chalk terroir in Montgueux near Troyes. Montgueux is one of the best places in Champagne to grow Chardonnay. About 27% of the base wine is vinified in barrel, with the end wine a blend of two vintages (2011 and 2012). 9 years on lees. Brut Nature 0 g/l or no dosage. No filtration, no sulphur added since 2016. Disgorgement date is 01/12/20 as per engraving on the bottle.

Aromatics: Expressive with notes of fresh almonds and yeast with baked “brioche” notes, as well as white fruits.

Palate: A magnificent Blanc de Blanc, typically generous and round. This Champagne is powerful with a beautiful weight and ripe texture. The finish is incredible with chalky minerality and saline character.

Food match: Champagne is one of the most versatile wine with food. We recommend seafood, butter-sauced fish like lobster, truffle dishes, duck, triple cream cheese, goat cheese, aged hard cheeses such as Comte or Gouda (but please avoid sweet desert or chocolate).

About Vincent Couche

The South of Champagne has often been lost to the shining, bigger houses which dominate the north. But, if you game to venture just two hours south from Epernay, and only 1 hour from Chablis, you'll find the incredible wines of Côte des Bar. Here, fortune favours the brave, as the unique mineral style of its Champagne and the attitude of its winegrowers become equally enchanting. Once you go Bar, you never go back.

It is here in the lesser-known and authentic "south" you'll find Vincent Couche - grower, vigneron, artisan. His mother passed on her passion and know-how to Vincent, who is nothing short of a true perfectionist.

In the vineyard or the cellar, he aims for nothing less than excellence. Couche, quite simply put, is very intimate with his vineyard. He knows each vine, each plot of land, each slope, farming all 13 hectares biodynamically cross two terroirs: Buxeuil and Montguex. Buxeuil covers 10 hectares, with mostly Pinot Noir around the village where his cave is located, with steep slopes overlooking the Seine river.

Soils are composed of limestone-clay and marl-clay according to each parcel, with high density to increase competition between the vines, resulting in berries with better maturity and flavour profile. His second terroir is in Montgueux Chardonnay kingdom, 48 min north-west near Troyes, with 3 hectares of Chardonnay on chalk dating back from the Cretaceous period.

Vincent continuously studies the needs of his vines, supplying the energy they need using only biodynamic treatments. His aim through biodynamic farming is to express the richness and complexity of his land to its full potential. Harvest is strictly by hand, sorted directly in the vineyard, with only ripe and healthy berries reaching the cellar to be pressed. Alcoholic fermentation uses only natural yeast, followed by vinification with no sulphites in partial or full barrel.

Region: Champagne (Champagne region, Côte des Bar)

Country: France

Alcohol: 13.5%

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml

Closure: Cork

Grape: 100% Chardonnay