Champagne Alain Couvreur began in 1961, but truly started from a long line of farmers and barrel makers over five generations on the Massif de Saint-Thierry and in the Vesle valley. The estate is in the town of Prouilly, along the Marne, while the vineyards’ encompass over four communes – with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier planted in Prouilly, Pévy and Branscourt while Chardonnay is located in Unchair, a village eleven kilometers from Prouilly.
The vineyard soils are composed of varying clay-limestone, limestone, and chalk. His Blanc de Noirs was awarded the Grande Médaille d’Or in the Mondial de Bruxelles. This sort of recognition, especially for small growers like these, can mean far more than it may seem.
A brilliant pale gold, steeped in sour cherry and plum fruit leaves. A slice of fresh cut green veggies on the nose as well, offering a fine friendly bit of funk. It is a taste bud tickler that starts with tart rumple-plum-skin, and exotic lychee fruit. As it breathes off that green scent, it lets loose freshly cut lemon and microplaned citrus rinds.
Wound up more tightly than some other Blanc de Noirs, more flavors akin to something like Pinot Blanc than Noir. The backbone, however, provides plenty of Pinot power that is unmistakable, and magnifies the overall complexity as well as the enjoyability.
Aged in stainless steel and in the bottle for 36 months on the lees. 60% of wines from the last vintage are blended with 40% of reserve wines from a solera dating back 12 years. 7g/L Dosage.