Étienne Calsac Les Rocheforts
53.92₣ (Exc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / Switzerland
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Calsac’s 2021 vintage-based NV Blanc de Blancs Les Rocheforts, complemented with 10% of reserve wines from 2020, was disgorged in April 2024 with four grams per liter dosage. A reference to the stark white chalk, Les Rocheforts comes from an organically farmed single-vineyard site planted in 1986 and 1988 in the village of Bisseuil. In the cellar, the wine is vinified equal parts in stainless steel and oak (five years old on average). Soaring from the glass with scents of acacia, pear and ripe citrus fruit, it’s muscular, glossy and textural, with a charming core of fruit and a delicately saline finish.
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Appellation
Alcohol
12.0%
Grapes
Serving
Between 8ºC and 10ºC
Winemaking
1st fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Second fermentation in bottle with a minimum ageing in lees of 24 months and a dosage of 2 g/l (Extra Brut).
Description
In the shadow of the Bisseuil hills, Étienne Calsac made a bold decision in 2012: to start an exclusive perpetual reserve for a single plot of land - Les Rocheforts, a Premier Cru planted on pure chalk soils. This micro-terroir, a true chalky reliquary of the Côte des Blancs, gives rise to a deeply mineral and expressive Blanc de Blancs, made solely from Chardonnay. Étienne, a young, classically trained vigneron with a restless spirit, is committed to cultivation that respects the environment, without herbicides, always seeking to ensure that the wine "speaks" of the soil. His obsession: to capture the tension and precision that only these cold, compact soils can offer.
Winemaking
Étienne Calsac Les Rocheforts is made from 75% of the latest vintage and 25% reserve wines from the solera started in 2012. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts : 50% in neutral barrels, 50% in stainless steel. No fining or filtering. Ageing on lees lasts between 18 and 24 months, providing texture and complexity without losing nerve. It is bottled with an extra brut dosage, allowing the freshness and salinity to express themselves without make-up.
Taste
The nose of Étienne Calsac Les Rocheforts is pure stone: wet chalk, white ash, with flashes of green lemon, tart apple and smooth-skinned pear. Beyond that, light brioche, dried white flower and a delicate echo of raw almond appear. The palate is direct, with electrifying acidity that runs across the palate like a chalk line on slate. Creamy texture, very fine bubbles, with a juicy and vibrant centre. The finish is long, saline, almost marine, with notes of candied lemon, fresh ginger and sourdough bread. A Champagne of surgical precision, without compromise, ideal for seafood, oily fish or simply contemplating the mineral beauty of the purest Champagne.
Shipping to Switzerland
50% discount on orders over 376.23₣*Estimated transit time: 6-7 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over 376.23₣* |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | 22.71₣ | 11.36₣ (-11.36₣) |
| 7-12 | 28.12₣ | 14.06₣ (-14.06₣) |
| 13-18 | 34.71₣ | 17.35₣ (-17.35₣) |
| 19-24 | 43.64₣ | 21.82₣ (-21.82₣) |
| 25-30 | 48.91₣ | 24.45₣ (-24.45₣) |
| 31-36 | 54.55₣ | 27.28₣ (-27.28₣) |
| 37-42 | 58.31₣ | 29.16₣ (-29.16₣) |
| 43-48 | 60.20₣ | 30.10₣ (-30.10₣) |
| 49-54 | 65.84₣ | 32.92₣ (-32.92₣) |
| 55-60 | 71.48₣ | 35.74₣ (-35.74₣) |
| VAT not included | ||
** Shipments to Switzerland include transport costs, insurance and export costs (SAD in origin), but not customs duties (SAD at destination) and local taxes.
***At Gourmet Hunters wine prices are exempt from 21% VAT for all shipments to Switzerland. Once in your shopping cart select Switzerland as delivery address to enjoy your order tax free.
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