# Collection Vintage Blanc de Blancs (2017)

- **Producer:** Nicolas Feuillatte
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €50
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 6–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blossom, apple, lemon, grapefruit, lime, mint, fennel, ginger, brioche, bread, pastry, butter, vanilla, cloves, hazelnut, honey, dried fig

## About this wine

Nicolas Feuillatte is France's number one selling Champagne brand, established in 1976 by a daring Parisian businessman who built a fortune importing coffee before launching his namesake Champagne. This 'Collection Vintage' Blanc de Blancs is a selection of 100% Chardonnay sourced from a mosaic of terroirs, primarily the prestigious Côte des Blancs, alongside parcels in Sézannais, Montgueux, and the Vallée de la Marne. The 2017 vintage was marked by chaotic weather, including severe frosts and heatwaves, but Chardonnay emerged as the hero of the harvest, showing incredible resilience and quality.

## Interesting facts

- Founder Nicolas Feuillatte originally created his Champagne for high-society friends like Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis.
- The 2017 vintage was described by the winery as 'chaotic,' suffering 24 days of severe frost followed by a punishing summer heatwave.
- While Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier struggled with rot in 2017, Chardonnay emerged as the absolute standout of the harvest.
- This wine is aged on its lees for a minimum of five to six years, far exceeding the legal minimum for vintage Champagne.

## Food pairing

The high acidity and fine effervescence of this Blanc de Blancs act as a palate cleanser, cutting through rich, creamy textures and buttery sauces. The wine's subtle autolytic notes of brioche and hazelnut complement roasted poultry, mushrooms, and aged cheeses, while its mineral core perfectly elevates delicate seafood and shellfish.

## Wine making process

Crafted by Cellar Master Guillaume Roffiaen using the traditional Champagne method. Primary fermentation takes place in small-capacity, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve terroir precision, followed by full malolactic fermentation. The wine is entirely unoaked to maintain its fresh, mineral-driven profile. It undergoes extensive aging on its lees in the cellars for a minimum of 5 to 6 years before commercial release, with a final dosage of approximately 9.2 to 10.0 g/L.