Roger Coulon Esprit De Vrigny 1er Cru Brut Nature

Grape Makeup:

Meunier; Pinot Noir; Chardonnay

Sweetness Level:

Brut Nature

Ageing on Lees:

Six+ years

Price:

$$

Cellar:

Five to ten years

Category:

Culinary

What

A ninth generation grower in the Petite Montagne, founded in 1806, heavily focused on reduced yields and ultra precise viticulture.

Where

Vrigny, Montagne de Reims; ~11ha in over 100 parcels in Gueux and Vrigny and Coulommes-la-Montagne Premiers Crus in Montagne de Reims and Chouilly Grand Cru in Côte des Blancs, organically farmed.

Why

This cuvée is made from old vines in Vrigny, a Premier Cru of the Petite Montagne, a Meunier-focused, slightly lower-lying area in the western Montagne de Reims. The blend combines the key champagne varieties from soil types that enhance their natural traits: Meunier from sandy sites, Chardonnay from chalk and Pinot from clay, creating a postcard of the village of Vrigny. Only 2,300 bottles were made.

What Else

The ninth generation, sister and brother Louise and Edgar Coulon, have joined the estate within the last decade and have been introducing efforts like the estate’s agroforestry project (Edgar’s initiative) that reintegrates trees into the vineyards. This aims to recreate the natural environment as it would have been before the introduction of viticulture.

Tasting Notes

This opens rich and enticing, with malty Ovaltine and shortbread slathered with marzipan, quince jelly and marmalade, gradually gaining a brighter lemon curd lift. There are more of the intense lemon curd qualities on the palate, which is rich, tart and sweet in equal degree with a pleasing yuzu honey bittersweetness to finish. This delivers lots of flavour concentration, but is well balanced, not overly full but definitely impactful. Impressed.

Try It With

Hard or semi-hard cheeses of a nutty richness

When To Drink

Cheese course

Perfect For

The family member who makes everyone's birthday cake

Tatler Tip

Even though this would be nice with cheese, it is also a sit and enjoy all evening wine -- don't share with too many people, or you won't experience the evolution throughout the bottle.

TL/DR

Malty, rich but beautifully balanced with a lemon curd bittersweetness

Supplier

L'Imperatrice