Marie-Courtin : Prestance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2020

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Prestance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2020 from Marie-Courtin

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a pale yellow hue with golden highlights, enhanced by a fine and persistent effervescence.

Nose

The nose reveals a lovely aromatic complexity with notes of white fruits (pear, apple) accompanied by floral nuances of white flowers. Aromas of brioche and honey add an elegant secondary dimension, while chalky mineral touches evoke the limestone terroir of Polisot. With aeration, the bouquet develops subtle almond notes and a delicate vegetal freshness.

Palate

The attack is fresh and precise. On the palate, the wine expresses a beautiful structure combining richness and mineral tension. The silky texture of Pinot Noir is perfectly balanced by a vibrant acidity that brings freshness. The minimal dosage of this extra brut cuvée preserves the authenticity of the fruit and terroir, without softening the profile with sweetness. The finish lingers elegantly on saline and mineral notes characteristic of the Kimmeridgian soils of the Côte des Bar.

Food and wine pairings

This champagne is an ideal companion for seafood and delicate fish dishes. It pairs perfectly with sea bass ceviche, sashimi, or asparagus risotto. It can also be enjoyed as an apéritif, where its aromatic complexity and freshness offer a captivating tasting experience.

Serving and storage

The Prestance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 10°C. It is recommended to serve it in a white wine glass rather than a flute, to allow better aeration and the development of its complex aromas.

A Côte des Bar champagne with mineral precision and character

The estate

Founded in 2005 by Dominique Moreau, the Marie-Courtin estate is named after her great-grandmother, who tended the family vineyards during the First World War. Located in Polisot in the Côte des Bar, this 2.5-hectare estate has been certified biodynamic since 2007. The estate is a member of Nicolas Joly's Renaissance des Appellations association. Dominique Moreau favors an artisanal, nature-respectful approach, crafting single-varietal, single-plot, single-vintage champagnes that express the authenticity of their terroir. The estate has established itself as a benchmark among natural, terroir-driven champagne producers.

The vineyard

The vines of the Marie-Courtin estate are planted in Polisot, in the Côte des Bar, on clay-limestone soils rich in Kimmeridgian limestone. This geological formation, identical to that of Chablis, imparts a distinctive saline minerality. The vineyard benefits from an east/southeast exposure favorable to the ripening of Pinot Noir. The vines, approximately 40 to 45 years old, are the product of massal selection, ensuring great genetic diversity and exceptional quality. Vineyard management follows biodynamic principles, with meticulous manual work and the use of natural preparations. Yields are deliberately kept low to favor concentration and terroir expression in each champagne.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Champagne presented particular climatic challenges, with frost episodes in certain areas. However, the Côte des Bar benefited from its slightly milder climate. Ripening took place under favorable conditions, yielding well-balanced grapes with fine maturity and preserved acidity — characteristics ideal for crafting extra brut champagnes.

Winemaking and aging

The Prestance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2020 is vinified with indigenous yeasts, from a strain selected and cultivated since the 2003 vintage. Fermentation takes place in tanks and old oak barrels, thereby preserving the purity of the fruit without imparting pronounced oak influence. Aging continues on lees, allowing the wine to develop its aromatic complexity while retaining its freshness. The minimal dosage, characteristic of the extra brut category, reflects the estate's philosophy of favoring authentic terroir and vintage expression without masking the wine's natural character through the addition of sugar.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir