De Castelnau launches 2003 blanc de blancs

Champagne de Castelnau has released a 2003 vintage blanc de blancs that has spent 11 years on its lees.

Recently disgorged, only 11,000 bottles have been released. Despite being something of a “controversial” vintage that not all houses decided to declare, de Castelnau’s ‘chef de cave’, Elisabeth Sarcelet, felt there was enough good quality wine to capture both the house style and vintage conditions.

The wine uses Chardonnay from a variety of sites, 80% of which are in the Montagne de Reims: Trépail, Ludes, Villers-Marmery, Verzy, Tauxieres and Rilly and the remaining 20% from Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Nogent l’Abbesse and Bausset.

Sarcelet described the wine as having: “faint tobacco, spice and a touch of mint followed by crystallised orange on the nose and a lemon-zesty freshness plus richer creamy caramelised exotic fruits on the palate, leading to a toasty and elegant finish,” and the house has even stated it is one of its best vintages.

Keith Isaac MW, head of Castelnau Wine Agencies in the UK, said: “We are excited about the release of the Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2003 and I’m happy to say that most of its rather limited supply will reach the UK, offering our customers the rare opportunity to experience a superb example of vintage Champagne from 2003.

“Champagne de Castelnau’s characterful style has found favour with a growing number of discerning consumers of premium Champagnes and the 2003 is expected to build on the track record of success of the Blanc de Blancs 2002 Vintage which has now sold out.”