Champagne JACQUESSON - Cuvée No. 744 D.T. (Late Disgorgement)
Founded in 1798 in Dizy, the Jacquesson House has gradually moved away from the traditional Champagne model based on the pursuit of a perfectly reproducible non-vintage cuvée, to favor a much more precise reading of the harvests and terroirs. The 700 Cuvées are at the heart of this approach, each being built around a base year and reserve wines that complement without masking its character. The Cuvée No. 744 D.T. belongs to an even more exclusive category: wines whose disgorgement is deliberately delayed to considerably extend maturation on the lees. It is based on the 2016 harvest, composed of 55% from Aÿ, Dizy, Hautvillers, and Champillon and 45% from Avize and Oiry, two groups of terroirs that combine the depth of the Pinots with the tension of the Chardonnays. Jacquesson describes this vintage as particularly successful, with ripe and healthy grapes and a Pinot Noir remarkable for its richness and structure. The principle of Late Disgorgement takes on its full meaning here: the wine gains complexity over several additional years under cork, while retaining the freshness protected by this low-oxidative environment.
The Cuvée No. 744 is complemented by 30% reserve wines from Cuvées 743 to 736, except for 738, to bring depth and continuity to the blend. The wines are vinified and aged in large oak vats on lees, in an approach that favors the texture and personality of the wine rather than a marked wood expression. For the D.T. version, the bottles are kept under cork for 92 months on lees before disgorgement, more than seven years of bottle maturation before this final step. This additional duration profoundly transforms the perception of the wine: the aromas gain relief, the mousse becomes more integrated, and the body acquires additional breadth, while the fruit remains surprisingly present. The dosage of this edition is 2 g/l, discreet enough to preserve the clarity of the finish and the freshness of the vintage. The result is a champagne that no longer seeks immediacy but a form of quiet depth, where autolysis, ripe fruit, and mineral nuances gradually interlock. The House also considers Late Disgorgements as a second maturation stage, allowing the wine to complexify over a long time without undergoing the oxidative evolution that necessarily accompanies disgorgement.
The golden robe has a beautiful brightness and is accompanied by a fine effervescence, already perfectly integrated into the body. The nose is immediately deeper than a classic 700 Cuvée, with ripe yellow fruits, candied citrus, and fresh apple evolving towards almond, brioche, dried fruits, and delicate smoky nuances. On the palate, the wine shows a broad and creamy texture, supported by a dense body but perfectly held by the freshness of the 2016 vintage. The Pinot Noir impresses with its richness and structure, while the Chardonnay brings a more lemony tension and a saline finish that prevents the whole from becoming too opulent. The length is remarkable, with a persistence that blends ripe fruit, almond paste, chalk, and a discreet toasted touch. This profile naturally calls for food: roasted turbot, langoustines, seared scallops, Bresse poultry, or veal sweetbreads with morels will allow full appreciation of its depth. Served around 10 to 12 °C in a wine glass rather than a narrow flute, this Cuvée No. 744 D.T. can be enjoyed today with great pleasure, while having a remarkable capacity to continue evolving in the cellar.
Grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
