The Champagne Varicour vineyard, certified for High Environmental Value and Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne, has been managed since 2011 by Aymeric Couvreur and his wife, Séverine. Comprising 15% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier, and 45% Pinot Noir, the vineyard extends across Rilly-la-Montagne, the Montagne de Reims, and also Courville in the Marne region.
This 3-hectare plot, located above the quarries that provided stone for building the Reims Cathedral, is vinified from a single hillside, lending the estate its authenticity. Its multifaceted terroir comprises four distinct soil types (a rarity in Champagne): massive limestone, which fosters wines with clarity; fine limestone, for refined wines; clay, contributing to rich wines; and a vein of sand, enhancing aromatic wines. Each soil and wine is worked independently, with a harmonious distribution of grape varieties across the various soils and wines crafted based on the characteristics of each vintage (barrel or stainless steel fermentation).
The result is Champagnes of undeniable taste quality, as exemplified by the 2017 Courville La Carrière Saint-Julien cuvée.
Color: pale gold with golden highlights. Lovely brilliance. Fine, slow bubbles.
Nose: open, complex, fresh, floral (white flowers), yellow fruits (peach, apricot, mirabelle plum), and fresh bread. On the second nose, buttery notes and hazelnuts emerge, along with a hint of salinity and ripe citrus.
Palate: full-bodied with a crisp and fresh attack. Flavors of citrus, fresh bread, and nuts. Beautiful roundness, a superb balance between richness, freshness, and bitterness. The bubbles are silky, and there is a lovely lingering finish.
Pairing: pairs well with sea bass, fennel, and orange butter; scallop carpaccio with hazelnut oil and mandarin.
Comment: a magnificent cuvee with a highly complex nose and palate. Bravo!
A Chigny-les-Roses, village de la montagne de Reims, Arnaud et Sophie Gounel
