Tasting Notes
(R17, disgorged October 2019, magnums disgorged February 2020). Fidèle is a blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) grown on Kimmeridgian limestone soils. This is from 2017, yet also includes roughly 5% reserve wine (from a perpetual blend started in 2001 stored in a giant old foudre). The vintage that makes up the majority of the blend is always stated on the back label with an “R” number (R being an abbreviation for Récolte, or vintage).
The Fonnet vineyard, located in a small, enclosed valley, provides the heart of this cuvée. Sorbée provides much of the balance, topped off by Châtel, a very rocky and limestone-rich vineyard with 20-plus-year-old Pinot Noir. Overall, the vine age for this wine averages 30 years.
Following pressing in a traditional, vertical Coquard press, Fidèle was vinified entirely without added yeast or chaptalisation, in used Burgundian barrels for 10 months (these barriques were purchased from Domaine Arnaud Ente in Meursault). The wine then spent 15-20 months on lees in bottle after secondary fermentation, and was disgorged with zero dosage.
Gautherot describes this as “a dangerous wine” —the bottle disappears so quickly. This certainly holds true for the R17, a wine loaded with red berry, straw and citrus pith notes as well as some Fino-like complexity, vibrant, punchy freshness and superb drive on the finish. The outstanding vintage shines through. - Importer Notes
The Aube Valley in southern Champagne is the least well-known region of Champagne. It barely features on wine maps of the region! This is mainly due to it's isolation from the rest of Champagne. In fact, the southern parts of the Aube, like the Cotes des Bar, are closer to Chablis in location, climate and soil structure than Epernay (the heart of Champagne).Vouette et Sorbee's tiny 5.5 hectare estate is located in the Cotes des Bar of the Aube in Champagne. The soils here are dominated by Kimmeridgian limestone and the climate is a lot sunnier than the north of Champagne giving wines of depth, breadth and length. They are powerful and unique expressions that need to be considered, so please allow them to open up and serve in a regular wine glass, not a flute. - Chris L
| Product Type | Wine Sparkling Champagne |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Sub Region | Aube |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |