Champagne Vouette et Sorbée Blanc d'Argile Blanc de Blancs 1.5L MAGNUM NV Base 22. Disg. Jan. 25

Blanc d'Argile is Vouette et Sorbée's Blanc de Blancs, made from Chardonnay that Bertrand Gautherot planted into unprepared ground in the Côte des Bar.

The Côte des Bar, in the far south of Champagne, is overwhelmingly Pinot Noir country, so Gautherot's decision in 2000 to plant Chardonnay was contrary. He did so in the cold, west-facing Kimmeridgian lieu-dit of Biaunes, and planted wild — without preparing the soils, among the native vegetation — using mass-selection cuttings from Anselme Selosse at Avize and from Vincent Dauvissat's Valmur vineyard in Chablis. Since 2020 the cuvée has also drawn on the Fonnet vineyard and on Vouette itself, replanted to Chardonnay from Pinot Noir. Indigenous yeasts ferment the wine in used 500- and 600-litre barrels, with a small portion fermented and raised in Georgian amphorae. It spends roughly fifteen to eighteen months on lees before hand disgorgement with zero dosage. The Biaunes vines yield only 15 to 20 hectolitres per hectare, which accounts for the depth on offer.

Drinking now and likely to reward a decade in magnum. Serve at 8 to 10°C with oysters, roast fish or a mushroom tart.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.