At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Champagne, Côte des Blancs
- Home village
- Vertus
- Vineyard area
- 16 hectares across Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Vertus
- Cuvée
- Grand Cru Extra Brut, non vintage Chardonnay Champagne
- Defining feature
- Burgundy oak barrel fermentation, no malolactic fermentation and extended lees ageing
The Producer
Alcoholic fermentation at André Jacquart takes place in Burgundy oak barrels, and malolactic fermentation does not follow. Burgundy oak brings oak contact and gentle oxygen exchange during fermentation. This can add complexity and broader texture. Malolactic fermentation normally converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid, so leaving it out keeps more of the base wine's acidity. The Champagnes then spend an extended period on their lees. Lees are the spent yeast cells left after fermentation. Time on them can add texture and length. Low dosage keeps added sugar low in the finished Champagne.
André Jacquart founded the Champagne house in 1958 after deciding to develop the family business. Marie Doyard has directed the house since 2004. She is André Jacquart's granddaughter and Maurice Doyard's great granddaughter. Maurice Doyard helped found the CIVC. The house produces approximately 90,000 bottles a year.
Place
Vertus is the house's current home in the Côte des Blancs, while Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is the other commune named in its holdings. Vertus is Premier Cru and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is Grand Cru. In Champagne, Premier Cru and Grand Cru classify vineyard villages and can appear on the label. Grand Cru is the higher of the two levels. Premier Cru is the level below it.
Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Champagnes are sharp and straightforward, with high minerality. Vertus Champagnes are mineral, lively and round.
Wines
Two named cuvées occupy different levels of the Champagne vineyard hierarchy. Experience Blanc de Blancs is the Premier Cru bottling. Blanc de Blancs is the category for a white Champagne made from white grapes. The wine shows exotic fruit and lemon peel aromas, including passion fruit and lemon tart nuances, followed by a warm, full and fleshy palate.
Grand Cru Extra Brut is the non vintage Chardonnay Champagne, with 12.5% alcohol and a dosage under 6 grams of sugar per litre. Non vintage means the label does not name a single harvest year. Extra Brut marks the dry end of the dosage scale.
Final Word
Base wines age on lees for a minimum of four years, while vintage releases reach eight years.