2018 Frederic Savart 'Les Noues' Ecueil Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Extra Brut
Region: Champagne, France
Grape: Pinot Noir
Culinary Suggestions: Charcuterie, Caviar, Oysters
Vineyard Practice: Sustainable
About
Frédéric was born into a family of vignerons, but his real dream was to be a professional footballer. He even signed a youth contract with Stade de Reims, playing as an attacking midfielder, but after meeting the woman who was to become his wife, he refused a potential transfer to another club, and decided to return home to work with his father, Daniel.
The family estate was founded by Daniel's father, René Savart, who purchased his first vines in 1947. Daniel himself took over the winemaking in the 1970s, although production remained extremely small until the mid-1980s, when he significantly expanded the family's vineyard holdings. Since 2005, Frédéric has been at the helm of the estate, although Daniel continues to be very much present, cheerfully greeting visitors and happy to share a glass of wine. Today, the Savarts farm four hectares of vines, three in Ecueil and one in the neighboring village of Villiers-aux-Noeuds. Nearly all of it is pinot noir, with just a half-hectare of chardonnay: "Historically, Ecueil is a pinot noir terroir," says Frédéric Savart. His philosophy in the vineyards is to prevent disease as much as possible, rather than treat it—towards this end, he prefers a holistic approach, creating an environment within which the plant is better equipped to resist malady on its own. The soils in this area can vary: many parcels in Ecueil are notably sandy, although there's more clay on the mid-slope, and a few areas that are relatively chalky. The soils of Villiers-aux-Noeuds are generally chalkier than those of Ecueil, and Savart's vineyards here are particularly prized for their sélection massale of the renowned pinot fin d'Ecueil, planted here by Daniel and René.
This Blanc de Noirs Champagne comes from the lieu-dit ‘Les Noues’. It’s an old vine parcel of Pinot Noir located in the village of Ecueil. The wine is aged in stockinger barrels. It carries volume, Pinot intensity with a pure line of fresh acidity. Zero dosage. Pinot perfection. - Importer Note
Tasting Notes
Aromas of peach, sweet red berries, peonies and buttery pastry introduce Savart's 2018 Extra Brut Premier Cru Les Noues, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy wine with a sweet core of fruit and a pretty, pillowy mousse. Lively and saline, readers may remember that it's a cuvée produced from a parcel of Pinot Noir vines that used to go into the l'Ouverture cuvée.
93 points - William Kelley, Wine Advocate September 2022
Drink: 2022 - 2032