2015 Champagne Christophe Baron Les Hauts Blanches Vignes Champagne

2015 Champagne Christophe Baron Les Hauts Blanches Vignes

95 RP

Featured Review

Disgorged in March 2019 without dosage, Christophe Baron's 2015 Brut Nature Les Hautes Blanches Vignes wafts from the glass with a lovely bouquet of fresh peach, crisp yellow orchard fruit, frangipane, red apple and subtle hints of mint. Full-bodied, vinous and enveloping, its satiny attack segues into an ample but beautifully defined mid-palate, displaying pristine balance and none of the sucrosity that can sometimes render the 2015 vintage ponderous at other addresses. Complemented by a delicate pinpoint mousse, this terrific Champagne concludes with a saline and precise finish. 1,597 magnums were produced. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 95 RP

Christophe Baron's 2015 Brut Nature Les Hautes Blanches Vignes (Magnum) is bright, punchy and full of character. Orchard fruit, white pepper, sage and mint are some of the many notes that race out of the glass in a cool, nervy Champagne that is super-expressive today. The more taut, crystalline side of Meunier really comes through. At times, the savory quality is a bit pronounced, which is common with 2015s, and yet all the elements remain very nicely balanced. I would give the 2015 another year or two in bottle. Disgorged: March, 2019.

Vinous Media | 94 VM

Type of Wine	Champagne : Nothing like a refreshing, vivacious glass of fine Champagne during a hot summer afternoon. Typically combining Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, each Champagne house has a distinct style. Whether you want to sample a single varietal (such as the 100% Chardonnay blanc de blancs) or a tasteful blend, no region can compete with Champagne.
Varietal	Meunier : Champagne is the world’s finest luxury bubbly, often associated with success and celebration. It has a sexy, elegant and sophisticated allure, which is greatly due to a cooperative of noble and highly regarded grape varietals. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are certain to be star performers in any blend, but how much is known of the third grape varietal in Champagne, Pinot Meunier (or simply Meunier)? Not only is Meunier crucial to Champagne blending, its ability to survive colder temperatures makes it an insurance policy in case of bad harvests, and… it just might be the secret behind the highly popular and omnipresent non-vintage Champagne bottlings. The dark-berried grapes of Meunier grow in small, tight clusters and have a unique leaf, which lends to its name. Meunier in French means “miller”, which is a reference to the flour-like dustiness that appears on the underside of the leaf. The leaves also possess a rough texture setting the variety visually apart from Pinot Noir, which is a suspected relative of Meunier. The variety is moderately high-vigor (often supplying a second yielding) and can be planted in unrestricted soil, making it incredibly adaptable. It is less susceptible to powdery mildew than Pinot Noir and far less susceptible to Eutypa dieback than Chardonnay. Although it has tight clusters, Botrytis bunch rot is not often an issue since Meunier is harvested before fall rains. As aforementioned, its ability to thrive in colder temperatures along with its many positive attributes in terms of growing habits and insusceptibility to vineyard hazards marks Munier as a trustworthy, insurance grape should the other varietals fail to perform in poor vintages. Meunier has long been considered a chimeric mutation of Pinot Noir, in which the inner cell layers are composed of a Pinot genotype; the epidermal layer is composed of a mutant, distinctive genotype, visibly separating it from Pinot Noir. Despite its assumed relation to Pinot Noir, advocates are calling for Meunier to be recognized as its own varietal, arguing that it warrants individual consideration since it is grown and valued separately from its relative. Among these advocating for the grapes recognition are a new generation of Champagne producers who are promoting varietal Meunier wines that typically taste of confected fruit, occasionally with slightly smoky flavors. Acidity in these wines are higher than that of Pinot Noir and are typically lighter in color. Historically regarded as the third grape of Champagne blends, highly obscured by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; nevertheless, Meunier has long been the quiet workhorse. Meunier has simply ‘existed’ in the blending process, with many producers reluctantly admitting the use of the variety. No positivity, concerning Meunier is regarded until Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay have poor harvests. When blended, the varietal add roundness, producing supple, fruity flavors and aromatics to Pinot Noir’s depth and Chardonnay’s richness. When on its own, it struggles to hold together, but when consumed young it has an exceptional nose of bing cherry, raspberry, strawberry, minerality and forest floor. On the palate, the berry notes are braced by acidic zip with a dusting of earthy, mushroom-like notes. Its early maturity may be viewed as a discouraging characteristic, but it may also be considered the secret ingredient in the widely available and ever-present non-vintage blends which flood the markets, helping to bring a more comprehensive recognition of the Champagne region. Alongside Pinot Noir, Meunier plays a major role in the production of Blanc de Noirs (white wine from red grapes) as the only two red varietals permitted in the region. They have a more angular than creamy structure and have more red-fruit flavors than the green-apple flavors of Chardonnay. Blanc de Noirs tend not to be 100% Meunier because they do not hold up as long as Pinot Noir blended versions, however varietal examples of Munier are becoming quite popular and able to be consumed in their youth. Today, there are nearly 12,000 hectares of Pinot Munier under vine in France, possessing 80% of the world’s plantings. Outside of Champagne, the varietal is planted in the Loire Valley, Germany (where it is called Schwarzriesling) the Carneros AVA of California, and Victoria Australia, where it is grown extensively. Varietal examples of still red wines are produced in minimal amounts in these locations and have a ‘cult’ like following. The Meunier varietal deserves to be celebrated for its contributions to the Champagne growing region and the world of wine. Without the Meunier grape, Champagne might not be what it is today. Of course Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the star contributors, but Meunier plays the silent partner which is highly relied upon, but seldom recognized.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region	Champagne : The sharp, biting acidity, cutting through the richness; the explosive force that shatters the bubbles as they rise to the surface; the intense flavor and compelling, lively mouthfeel; these are all hallmarks of a good Champagne. Most wines are made from a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, but there are pure-Chardonnay variants and ones that blend only Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. As a result, most wines come with a feeling of familiarity, if not nostalgia. Each Champagne house has its own unique style, so different bottles of Champagne may not resemble each other outside of the core varietal strengths. The soil composition of the subregion is characterized by belemnite and chalk, which lets it absorb heat during the daytime and release it at night. This terroir helps create the feeling of airy, playful lightness of fine sparkling wine. These wines were originally marketed towards royalty, and you can feel a hint of that elusive blue-blood elegance and confidence while drinking one. A good Champagne carries you away like a hurricane carries small debris, and you can feel the powerful life force in each bubble even. The characteristic Champagne "pop" has become a staple at parties and celebrations around the globe - when you hear it, good times are right around the corner.