Back in May we were able to present the superb, terroir-driven Blanc de Blancs Champagnes of Pierre Larmandier, aka The Monk of Vertus, but today we are shifting the spotlight to Larmandier's neighbor and kindred spirit-Pascal Doquet. Like Larmandier, Pascal Doquet is a zealous, 100% organic vineyard man to the core. Pascal established his estate in 2004 after his parents retired. Today he farms twenty acres of Chardonnay vines (between 37 and 77 years old) largely in the Cote de Blancs villages of Vertus and Bèrgers-les-Vertus (both Premier Cru) as well as the Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru. Doquet keeps permanent cover crops between the rows of his vines to promote biodiversity as well as to gain insights to the character of the underlying soil. Doquet controls his yields and manages his farming practices to achieve optimum ripeness so that there is never a need for chapitalization. Only indigenous yeasts are used to better express a site's terroir while bottling takes place using minimal filtration and no fining. Pascal Doquet's trifecta of low yield organic viticulture, top-drawer vineyard terroir, and deft winemaking savoir faire definitely places him in the uppermost echelon of Champagne's grower-producers. Doquet's exceptional quality combined with his very down-to-earth pricing makes his Champagnes crazy popular in Europe and hard as heck to find on this side of the pond. Naturally, then, we are doubly pleased to offer you these two gems from Pascal's thrilling range.
Made from 100% Certified Organic Chardonnay from Doquet's parcels in Vertus, Villenuve, and Mont Aimé. This intricate, multi-year assemblage is composed of 27% 2014, 49% 2013, and 24% from the 2012 harvests. It is worth noting that the large amount of reserve wine is held in enameled steel tanks to preserve its freshness and its minerality. This Arpège was disgorged in January of 2021 with a dosage of 3.5 grams per liter after 69 months of patient aging on the yeast.
JAMES SUCKLING 91 POINTS - "Pretty nose of custard, apples, lemon curd, cream pastries and shortbread. Medium-to full-bodied with vibrant acidity and creamy bubbles. Focused and structured, with a dry, mineral finish. Drink now."
Made from 100% Certified Organic Chardonnay from Doquet's parcels in Vertus, Villenuve, and Mont Aimé. This intricate, multi-year assemblage is composed of 27% 2014, 49% 2013, and 24% from the 2012 harvests. It is worth noting that the large amount of reserve wine is held in enameled steel tanks to preserve its freshness and its minerality. This Arpège was disgorged in January of 2021 with a dosage of 3.5 grams per liter after 69 months of patient aging on the yeast.
JAMES SUCKLING 91 POINTS - "Pretty nose of custard, apples, lemon curd, cream pastries and shortbread. Medium-to full-bodied with vibrant acidity and creamy bubbles. Focused and structured, with a dry, mineral finish. Drink now."
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