Nathalie Falmet : Parcelle ZH 303 2014

Tasting notes and characteristics of Parcelle ZH 303 2014 Nathalie Falmet

Tasting

Appearance
Pale to light gold in colour, scattered with subtle green highlights. Its effervescence stands out for a remarkably fine mousse, both regular and persistent.

Nose
The first nose expresses a beautiful citrus freshness, blending lemon and lime with crisp green apple, delicate pear and subtle floral touches. With aeration, the identity of the terroir reveals itself through aromas of chalk, wet stone and oyster shell. Ageing finally brings additional complexity with fine notes of fresh hazelnut, brioche and a very light toasted character.

Palate
The attack is lively and bracing, carried by the beautiful acidity of Chardonnay. Completely dry, this wine offers a straight, taut palate of great precision, while maintaining a harmonious balance and medium volume. The texture becomes almost tactile and chalky. Flavours of ripe lemon, green apple and grapefruit zest unfold, sublimated by an appetising salinity. The long, linear finish stretches out on saline, citrus and dried fruit notes.

Food and wine pairings
This great blanc de blancs masterfully pairs with seafood. Its tension and minerality elevate raw oysters, poached shellfish or a scallop carpaccio. It also wonderfully accompanies delicate crustaceans such as crab or lobster, as well as fine white-fleshed fish, such as sole meunière. As for cheeses, it pairs very well with young pressed cheeses such as Comté or with fresh goat's cheeses. It is advisable to avoid spicy dishes or overly sweet and creamy sauces.

The pure expression of Chardonnay in a champagne crafted by Nathalie Falmet

The estate
Located at the heart of the Côte des Bar in Champagne, the estate spans a vineyard of 3.40 hectares. It is winegrower and oenologist Nathalie Falmet, the current owner, who leads this family-run estate. After gradually taking over the vines from 1993 onwards, she decided to vinify her own wines in 2007. The true creation of the brand came in 2009 with the release of her first bottles. A pioneer in the region, she combines scientific rigour with a craftsman's approach to produce signature, single-plot cuvées of great precision.

The vineyard
The grapes come exclusively from the micro cadastral plot ZH 303, located in the village of Rouvres-les-Vignes. This singular Champagne terroir rests on Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils, rich in fossils, which give the wine a deep minerality reminiscent of that of Chablis. The vines, around fifty years old, are tended according to the principles of sustainable viticulture, with the estate holding HVE3 environmental certification since 2021.

Winemaking and ageing
The crafting of the Parcelle ZH 303 2014 cuvée receives meticulous attention. Fermentations take place spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts. Vinification is carried out 100% in 350-litre barrels, where the wine rests for 8 to 9 months. This is followed by a very long ageing on lees of around 50 months, bringing richness and complexity.

Grape variety
100% Chardonnay