Champagne Salmon Blanc de Noirs Special Club Chaumuzy 2017

The honor of putting ‘Special Club’ on your label requires painstaking attention in both the vineyard and the cellar. But to even be considered a Club Trésors de Champagne member, Champagne’s only organized committee, demands details not for the faint of heart. Today, it holds just 24 members. A panel of experts must vote you in, and your domain must have a winemaker who is involved in and has total control over farming and winemaking practices. Sounds like a straightforward ask, but this is not common in Champagne. The region is so cold that committing all of your production to estate bottlings is risky. It is a much surer bet to sell and trade fruit in tide with the growing season’s highs and lows. The Club Trésors de Champagne producers are artisans and risk-takers, and each Special Club bottle should be considered a work of art. Let us introduce you to one such masterpiece!

For three generations the Salmon family has specialized in the rare and elusive Pinot Meunier grape in the hamlet of Chaumuzy in Champagne. In fact, the ten hectares in Champagne that they farm sustainably are planted 85% to Pinot Meunier. Pinot Meunier ripens earlier than Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, allowing for harvest before colder Fall temperatures prevail. Historically, the grape has been prized for its blending abilities with soft texture and fruit aromas but has come in third place to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. However, the Salmon family has chosen to give Pinot Meunier the full limelight it deserves.

Alexandre Salmon now mans the helm of the brand his grandfather founded in 1958. His techniques stand out from the crowd not only due to the amplification of Pinot Meunier, but for his use of plot-by-plot vinification. With each parcel receiving dedicated, personalized attention in the winemaking process, Alexandre maintains impeccable control and flexes his superb blending skills to create exceptional, terroir-driven Champagnes. 2017 was not an easy vintage in Champagne with many ups-and-downs of warm Spring start to late Spring frost and a hot, dry Summer with hail and rain in August. These conditions are a testament to the Alexandre’s talents, who turned a trying, difficult vintage into a Special Club bottling. The 100% Pinot Meunier fermented in stainless steel tank and underwent a full malolactic fermentation. Toasted brioche and freshly-baked croissant aromas mingle with touches of stonefruit and honeysuckle. A lively acidity dances across the textured palate that leads into a creamy, lingering finish. Our dream pairing for this Champagne is a baked brie with apricot jam and crisp, buttery crackers.