Pascal Doquet - Champagne Grand Cru - Champ d'Alouettes Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Extra-Brut - White - 2004

Wine:

From a 62-acre parcel of Chardonnay, located mid-slope with a southern exposure, the 2004 Extra-Brut White Grand Cru Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Champ d'Alouettes Champagne is a remarkable cuvée that confirms its grace with a strong saline concentration, umami notes, and an exceptionally long finish. Vinified one-third in oak barrels, this pure 20-year-old Chardonnay remains youthful, with complex and delicate bubbles. Rated 95/100 by RVF.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. Terroir : Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, a single plot in a single block, located mid-slope with a southern exposure, benefits from a very favorable microclimate in a small, sheltered, east-facing valley. Locality: Champ d'Alouettes. Planted in 1980. Surface area: 61.74 ares. Average to low yields impacted by "court-noué" with many small millerandage bunches (very small seedless grapes). Malolactic fermentation deliberately blocked to preserve all the fruitiness of the grapes and their original acidity. Aged 6 months on lees, 1/3 in oak barrels and 2/3 in enamelled steel vats. Blend: 100% Chardonnay, 2004 vintage, first press juice only. Bottled in May 2005. Dosage: 3.5 g/l (Extra-Brut).

Temperature:

Serve between 8 and 10°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Poultry with porcini mushrooms, sweet-spiced fish, Armorican-style lobster tail.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2030, and even longer for enthusiasts.

With a three-star rating in the RVF Guide, Domaine Pascal Doquet is a go-to destination for lovers of crisp and energetic Chardonnay-based Champagnes.

Located in Vertus on some of Champagne's most prestigious terroirs, this boutique estate spans just under 9 hectares. They organically cultivate magnificent crus from the Côte des Blancs—including the Grand Cru Mesnil-sur-Oger—and from the chalky slopes of Vitry-le-François.

They partially vinify their wines in barrels without new oak, and carefully control the dosage after extended cellar aging. The result is authentic and precise Champagnes, known for their long, saline finishes and distinctive character.