Marie-Courtin : Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2019

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2019 from Marie-Courtin

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a deep golden hue with amber highlights, suggesting the richness of the champagne. The mousse is dense and persistent, with fine, plentiful bubbles forming an elegant effervescence.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic intensity with notes of candied pineapple and apricot pit. Subtle touches of vanilla and applesauce accompany this fruity expression. A distinctive saline minerality emerges, reflecting the Kimmeridgian terroir. With aeration, the bouquet evolves toward aromas of mirabelle plum and white pepper.

Palate

On entry, the palate is fresh and precise, carried by a fine effervescence. It reveals spicy notes of saffron, accompanied by yellow fruits such as mirabelle plum, peach and cherry. The silky texture brings roundness, while the minerality gives structure to the whole. Floral nuances of lemon blossom and candied lemon zest linger through the finish. The well-defined acidity lends vibrancy and balance to this champagne of great purity.

Food and wine pairings

This champagne pairs perfectly with seafood, especially shellfish such as crab and lobster. Its minerality and freshness also make it an excellent match for delicate fish.

Serving and cellaring

The Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2019 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. It is recommended to serve it in white wine glasses rather than flutes to encourage aromatic expression and allow the champagne to breathe.

An exceptional Blanc de Noirs from the Côte des Bar, with remarkable purity and energy

The estate

Officially founded in 2005 by Dominique Moreau in the village of Polisot, the Marie-Courtin estate takes its name from the winegrower’s great-grandmother. Spanning around 2.5 hectares in the Côte des Bar in Champagne, this family-owned, independent estate quickly established itself as a benchmark among grower Champagnes. Dominique Moreau oversees all vineyard and winemaking operations with a philosophy firmly rooted in biodynamics, certified as early as 2007. The estate produces single-parcel, single-varietal, vintage Champagnes, with no dosage, reflecting an authentic approach that respects the terroir. Marie-Courtin has achieved cult status among lovers of natural Champagne.

The vineyard

The Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2019 comes from a vineyard located mid-slope in the Côte des Bar, also known as the Aube, the southern part of Champagne. The 40- to 50-year-old Pinot Noir vines come from massal selection and benefit from an east/southeast exposure. The terroir is characterized by clay-limestone soils with bands of Kimmeridgian limestone, a geological formation that gives the wines pronounced minerality and a freshness comparable to that of Chablis wines. The vineyard is farmed biodynamically with specific preparations and the use of compost made on site. Harvesting is carried out by hand with rigorous grape selection.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage in Champagne began with an exceptionally warm February, followed by a contrasting spring with frosts in April and heavy rainfall in May, encouraging the development of downy mildew. Two heat waves marked the summer: the first, in June, helped to sanitize the vineyard, while the second, at the end of July, with temperatures reaching 43°C, required strict sorting at harvest. August and September then offered more favorable conditions, yielding grapes with a fine balance between sugar and acidity and an overall freshness.

Vinification and aging

The Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2019 is vinified in enameled steel vats with indigenous yeasts specifically cultivated from the estate’s vines. After alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged on lees for around 36 months before disgorgement. This cuvée is produced with no dosage whatsoever, expressing the purity of the terroir and the vintage without any addition of dosage liqueur.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir