Champagne Crètè Chamberlin 1683 Origin Extra Brut NV
Fantastic Stuff from New Grower Champagne House!
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Why We Love It...
Mathieu and Blandine Crété grew up with grape growing in their blood, as their parents operated vineyards as the family business. Actually, it’s been the family lot going all the way back to 1683, with a history of on-again, off-again winemaking from those plots as far back as 1887. In more recent history, the focus has been on the grape-growing side of things, but in just the past decade, Mathieu and Blandine have been working to change that, reintroducing the idea of making wines from their illustrious family plots.
This Champagne – a blend of 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot meunier – is produced with a base wine made from grapes in the 2019 harvest, alongside 40% of the family reserve wines from both the 2018 and 2017 harvests. The chardonnay stems from the terroirs of Grand Cru Oger and Premier Cru Cuis in the Côte des Blancs, with the pinot meunier from an assembly of parcels in Pierry (Premier Cru), Moussy, and Vinay, all in the Vallée de la Marne. The grapes undergo fermentation in stainless steel tanks, with partial malolactic fermentation allowed but not forced to maintain the breathy freshness and steely acidity. After blending, the cuvee rests for over 36 months in bottle on the lees, followed by a slight dosage of just under 6 grams per liter at disgorgement.
The aromas and flavors open with classic chardonnay sensations of ripe Bosc pears and Braeburn apples, followed by bakery sensations of fresh biscuits and brioche. As the wine unfolds delicately in the glass, accents of raw almonds and key lime pie take shape, all guided by an enduring vein of minerally, river rock sensations, and at the close, a gently salty sea spray finish. It’s broad, yet focused, with harmonious balance and a seamless transition from flavor to flavor. To be clear, this is sincerely delectable stuff that most certainly bodes well for an extremely bright future for these folks, and we can see why their wares are gaining meteoric applause!
As they’re just getting started (their website is still under construction as well), their production is extremely small – this batch comes in at just over 200 cases… total! Best as we can tell, we’re the only ones in the country, or the hemisphere, or really anyone outside of the EU, that have access to this beauty. We scored as much as we could, but there’s just not a lot to be had! If rare, family-produced, rigorously crafted, painstakingly sourced Champagnes are your thing, do not hesitate to make this a part of your collection today!
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Technical Details
Champagne Crété Chamberlin