Champagne Vouette and Sorbée - Blanc d'Argile 2018
Vouette & Sorbée is located in Buxières-sur-Arce, in the Côte des Bar in Champagne . The Domaine belongs to Hélène and Bertrand Gautherot, and has been certified in organic and biodynamic farming since 1998. The 5 hectares of vines have an average age of 35 years. They are mainly planted on Kimmeridgian hillsides (3/4) and on a fragmented patch of pure Portlandian at a place called Sorbée. The grape variety is dominated by Pinot Noir, but is slowly evolving towards more Chardonnay due to their proximity to Chablis.
The manual harvest is spread over approximately 3 weeks. The pressing is carried out using a traditional vertical coquard. The juices are decanted without pumping and decanted by gravity into 400 liter barrels, pieces or amphorae. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts. All champagnes are vinified and aged in wood. Disgorging is done “on the fly”: manually, the bottle is held upside down then opened while being quickly straightened so that the pressure expels the deposit without letting too much wine escape. The champagnes are not dosed.
Blanc d'Argile is a cuvée which was produced for the first time in 2004, from a single plot of Chardonnay with a cold microclimate, located between forests and pastures at a place called Biaune. The clay-limestone geology of the Kimmeridgian accentuates the salinity of the locality. The selection of Chardonnay de Chablis plans allows this champagne to be matured with the idea of a very great Burgundy wine. It comes from the 2018 harvest and was disgorged on November 2, 2020.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay