# Millésime Sélection (2013)

- **Producer:** Champagne Tange-Gérard
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €60
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** lemon, blossom, apple, brioche, toast, butter, hazelnut, forest floor, mushroom

## About this wine

Champagne Tange-Gérard was established by Danish journalist Solveig Tange and Champenois agricultural engineer Alain Gérard in Soulières, on the Côte des Blancs. The estate emphasizes sustainable, artisanal viticulture that reflects specific vintage expressions. The Millésime Sélection represents Tange-Gérard's flagship Blanc de Blancs, produced exclusively in outstanding years from top Chardonnay parcels around Vertus.

## Interesting facts

- Harvest took place in October 2013, representing a remarkably rare late harvest for modern Champagne.
- Spent nearly 10 years aging on lees prior to disgorgement in 2024.
- Malolactic fermentation was completely blocked to preserve long-term freshness and tension.

## Food pairing

Vibrant, high acidity cuts through rich textures such as butter, cream, and fatty duck, while nearly a decade of lees contact provides structural body and savory depth that pairs seamlessly with roasted meats, mushrooms, and aged hard cheeses.

## Wine making process

Harvested during a cold October in 2013, the 100% Chardonnay grapes were gently pressed using traditional Coquard presses. Primary fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation was intentionally blocked to retain crisp natural acidity and aging potential. Bottled in April 2014, the champagne aged for nearly ten years on its lees before disgorgement with a Brut dosage of 5.5 g/L.