Bauchets 2021

Les Bauchets 2021 reminds us that, for Flavien Nowack, single-vineyard cuvées are never just about a grape variety. They are first and foremost about a place. On this mid-slope in Vandières, old Pinot Noir vines planted in 1965 plunge their roots into sandy limestone soil over marl. Where the Meunier of Fontinette favors roundness and continuity, the Pinot Noir creates a different architecture. The lines are more taut, the contours more assertive, without ever losing the elegance that characterizes the estate's wines. The winemaking remains true to Flavien Nowack's philosophy: natural yeasts, aging in small barrels, no fining or filtration. Nothing disrupts the dialogue between the grape variety and its terroir. The light dosage discreetly accompanies the wine, without ever altering its balance. On tasting, Les Bauchets impresses with its precision. The texture is chiseled, noble bitters lengthen the wine, while the saline finish prolongs the sensation of freshness. A champagne that combines depth and verticality with rare clarity. More than the expression of a great Pinot Noir, Les Bauchets is a new piece of the puzzle imagined by Flavien Nowack. A bottle that confirms, once again, that each parcel of Vandières has its own voice. Estate Flavien Nowack Winemaker Flavien Nowack Cuvée Les Bauchets Vintage 2021 Appellation Champagne Extra Brut Region Champagne Grape Variety Pinot Noir Terroir Mid-slope of Vandières (100 m altitude), sandy limestone over marl. Vines planted in 1965. Viticulture Parcel-by-parcel work with respect for living organisms, to precisely reveal the identity of the terroir. Aging Fermentation on natural yeasts. Unfiltered, unfined wine. Aged in small oak barrels. Bottled under cork on August 3, 2022. Dosage 1.5 g/l. Style A slender and structured champagne, where Pinot Noir expresses all its finesse. A chiseled texture, elegant bitters, and a long saline finish.