Barons de Rothschild : Les Maladries 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Les Maladries 2021 Cuvée by Barons de Rothschild

Tasting Notes

Appearance
A delicate pale golden hue, enhanced by brilliant, crystalline highlights.

Nose
Deeply mineral and chalky, it reveals elegant aromas of linden blossom before opening onto subtle notes of lightly toasted almond, pineapple, and freshly baked bread.

Palate
Full-bodied, textured, and savoury, it offers a creamy profile that is very dry and zesty. The chalky character is clearly present, accompanied by citrus flavours such as blood orange and ripe pomelo. The finish is saline, fresh, and finely gripping, leaving lingering, indulgent hints of stewed apple.

Serving and Cellaring

The Les Maladries 2021 cuvée can be fully enjoyed right now thanks to its youthful, approachable profile, while also possessing the structure needed to age gracefully in the cellar for several years.

The Pure Expression of a Grand Cru from Champagne by Barons de Rothschild

The Estate

Founded in 2005, the Barons de Rothschild house, an iconic figure of Champagne, was born from the shared vision of the three branches of this famous family. Today, the estate is led by Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, Ariane de Rothschild, along with Eric and Saskia de Rothschild. Based in Reims, this prestigious house stands out for its focus on chardonnay and minimalist dosages. The estate crafts wines of the highest calibre, mostly sourced from Grand and Premier Crus, embodying excellence and precision.

The Vineyard

The cuvée comes exclusively from the Les Maladries lieu-dit, a micro-plot of less than 0.3 hectares located in Avize, a village classified as Grand Cru in the Côte des Blancs. North-facing and situated on a mid-slope, these very old Champagne vines, propagated through massal selection, were planted in 1938. They thrive on a soil made up of a thin, roughly thirty-centimetre layer of clay resting on a thick base of Campanian chalk, which gives the wine its minerality, tension, and vertical structure.

The Vintage

2021 was a particularly demanding and cold year. Unpredictable weather conditions were marked by episodes of spring frost and high humidity, which encouraged pressure from fungal diseases. These conditions led to uneven ripening, requiring extremely rigorous work in the vineyards to ensure optimal vine health and to harvest at perfect ripeness.

Winemaking and Ageing

The grapes for the Les Maladries 2021 cuvée were hand-harvested on 21 September 2021. The still wines undergo nine months of ageing split equally between 50% oak barrels and 50% concrete egg-shaped vats. The second fermentation is then followed by extended ageing on lees in bottle for 45 months before disgorgement.

Grape Variety

100% chardonnay