The fifth oldest Champagne House introduces an unprecedented cuvée, a Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, revealing the essence of its spirit for over two centuries: crafting exceptional Champagne wines orchestrated by an artisanal ethos.
Shaping the Extraordinary, Abelé 1757 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Etienne Eteneau, the Cellar Master, has fashioned this vintage as an exploration of Abelé’s style. It encapsulates the Maison’s fundamentals: Chardonnay, the finesse of bubbles, and lingering mouthfeel. It exudes panache with the execution of a manual technique called “poignettage”; a method that renders it a unique masterpiece.
The Ode to Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the signature of Abelé’s style. Etienne Eteneau selects the most promising terroirs for the blends: the Côte des Blancs for its mineral character, Sézannais for its fruity notes, and finally, Vitryat. The Cellar Master also chooses to ferment Chardonnay at low temperatures and incorporates only this grape variety in all dosage liqueurs. This devotion to Chardonnay finds full expression in this new Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut cuvée.
The Dance of Lees
The peculiarity of this cuvée lies primarily in the “poignettage” phase, requiring human resources to understand and listen to the wine. This technique involves a lively rocking motion of the bottles to reintegrate the lees, increasing the quantity of mannoproteins. This operation involves a gesture of 12 “poignettages” every three months, spanning from the effervescence to the riddling. Unmechanized, this step is rarely practiced in Champagne. The continuity and energy of the gesture activate exchanges between the yeast and the wine, nurturing and revitalizing it. The texture and aroma are exceptional, given the wealth to extract from the wine, imparting character to this Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut and an unparalleled finesse of bubbles. The dosage is intentionally reduced to 3 grams for this dazzling cuvée, drawing much of its richness from “poignettage,” amplifying the qualities of a controlled evolution.
Tasting the Blanc de Blancs Extra-brut champagne
This Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is a true affirmation of the Abelé collection. It expresses the specific characteristics of the predominant harvest year, 2009, a solar and warm vintage, remaining faithful to the Maison’s style crafted by the Cellar Master, a true ode to Chardonnay.
The Outlines of a New Case
An unprecedented bottle accompanies only 1757 bottles of this Extra Brut (a nod to the Maison’s founding year). With broader shoulders, an elongated neck, and an oak hue, this elegantly affirmed bottle resembles the one dedicated to the exceptional duo of Le Sourire de Reims Brut and Le Sourire de Reims Rosé; an aspiration for elevation, aiming to showcase artisanal craftsmanship. Furthermore, other cuvées from the Maison, currently in a Champagne format, will also transition into this new glass shape.
