Champagne Denis Chaput "Mésogée" Brut NV
(Champagne, France)

About the Winery:
Located in the Cote de Bar village of Arrenthieres, the first winegrower to bear the name Chaput moved to Arrentières in 1862. By 1878, he had his own wine press. Their first champagne, “Cuvee des Rochottes”, was produced in the early 1930s. Today this family-run grower (the Chaput brothers Nicolas and Xavier, along with their father Denis and mother Jacqueline) has 26 plots, each of which is different. The hillsides face South-East to West, with the steepness of the slopes ranging from 5 to 20%; the soil varies in its proportion of pebbles, its depth, and its richness in clay. 

Notes from the Winemaker:
Mésogée means “in the middle of the lands,” and was the name of the prehistoric sea located in the Côte des Bar which gave the structure and minerals to the subsoil. 

This is a blend of 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay. Bottled in July 2015, it consists of 70% wines from the 2014 harvest and 30% reserve wines from harvests between 2008 and 2013.  

Tasting Notes:
Bright, pale golden yellow color with silvery yellow highlights, this cuvée presents fine, persistent bubbles. The nose develops aromas of lemon, honey, blackcurrant, pepper, smoked limestone, star anise, peony, apple, apricot, biscuit, and Morello cherry. On the palate, the attack is supple and fresh, with a soft, creamy effervescence. Luscious, crisp fruit is underscored by a grapefruity acidity, delicately combined with a marly minerality. The light, juicy finish ends on a smooth, saline note.  

Food Pairing:
Lightly cooked scallops with a tangerine reduction; skate with grapefruit butter sauce and slow-cooked turnips with caramel-soy sauce.