Pierre Péters : Les Chetillons Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée Spéciale 2018

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Les Chetillons Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée Spéciale 2018 by Pierre Péters

Tasting notes

Appearance
Pale golden yellow with subtle green highlights, it is distinguished by an exceptionally fine and beautifully consistent mousse.

Nose
Highly expressive, it first reveals aromas of white flowers such as acacia and hawthorn, intermingled with notes of ripe white-fleshed fruit and stone fruit. Citrus notes bring vivacity, while aeration releases complex touches of almond, hazelnut, gingerbread and dried flowers.

Palate
The attack is remarkably pure, revealing a generous volume supported by a chalky, acidic backbone. The palate unfolds flavours of ripe and dried fruit, apricot and candied mandarin, interwoven with toasty nuances. The finish stretches out at length on a saline freshness and a hint of citrus bitterness.

Food and wine pairings

This great sparkling white wine from France elevates seafood such as oysters, scallops pan-fried in lemon butter, or noble fish such as turbot and line-caught sea bass. It also pairs wonderfully with roast poultry or moderately aged, cooked pressed cheeses such as Comté.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal enjoyment, it is recommended to serve this wine at 10 to 12 °C, ideally in tulip-shaped glasses. With remarkable ageing potential, Les Chetillons Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée Spéciale 2018 will develop favourably in the cellar for approximately 10 to 15 years.

The purity of a great Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs by Pierre Péters

The estate

Located in the heart of the Côte des Blancs in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, the Champagne house Pierre Péters was officially founded in 1919, although the family's winemaking roots go back to the mid-19th century. This grower-producer estate farms just over 19 hectares of vines. Now run by Rodolphe Péters, the estate is distinguished by its century-old expertise and its specialisation in Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru cuvées. The house crafts precise, terroir-driven wines that faithfully reflect the minerality of their chalky soils.

The vineyard

The grapes come exclusively from three old parcels located in the prestigious lieu-dit Les Chétillons, in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in Champagne. Classified as Grand Cru, this terroir benefits from outcropping chalk soil that acts as a natural water regulator, encouraging deep rooting of the vines. The vineyard is managed using a sustainable, environmentally respectful approach, with hand-harvesting to ensure a rigorous selection of the bunches.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage enjoyed particularly mild weather conditions. After a rainy winter that replenished the soil's water reserves, spring and summer proved warm and sunny. These favourable weather conditions, with no disease pressure, led to optimal, generous ripening of the berries at harvest.

Vinification and ageing

The musts of Les Chetillons Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée Spéciale 2018 are vinified separately in order to preserve the identity of each parcel. The wine then benefits from extended ageing on the lees in bottle for a minimum of 72 months. After disgorgement, it rests for at least one more year in the cellar before release.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay