Tasting Vins Clairs

Have you ever heard of vins clairs? 

No? Then we'll explain it to you now!

WHAT ARE "Vins Clairs" ?

A vin clair is the wine of the year. 

A Champagne wine that has finished its alcoholic fermentation, the first fermentation, and is ready to be blended with other wines before being bottled to start the second fermentation, the "prise de mousse". 

It is only during this last stage that the famous bubbles appear.

TASTING THE CLEAR WINES

Once the grapes have been harvested separately in September, they are pressed and then put into fermentation tanks, variety by variety and, if necessary, plot by plot. 

Each year, from January onwards, the winemakers and oenologists taste these still wines (without bubbles), called the "vins clairs" of Champagne, from the previous year's harvest.

This tasting will allow to determine several elements:

• Evaluate the wines of the harvest in terms of aroma, quality and ageing potential.
• Decide whether to vintage a part of the harvest or a particular grape variety.
• Determine future blends to respect the different Cuvées du Vigneron or create a new one.
• Analyse each grape variety and its characteristics for the year in order to establish the percentages in each cuvée: are the Chardonnays more tense than the previous year? Are the Pinot Noir more robust? Should they be aged or put more in a certain Cuvée?

TERROIR AND VINIFICATION

Tasting the clear wines is particularly exciting. It is an astonishing experience because it highlights the qualities and singularities of the terroir, but also of the vinification. The terroir leaves its mark.

On the same grape variety, from one vineyard to another, depending on the soil, the exposure and a thousand other variables, we go through a palette of aromas and sensations.

The tasting also highlights the importance and influence of the vinification process on the wine. The same wine vinified in vats or in barrels: a striking difference.

Once all these variables have been clarified, the wines will be blended and then bottled, "tirage", in which the effervescence will be created, "prise de mousse".

The Champagnes can then begin their ageing phase during which their aromatic and ageing potential will be revealed.

It is now time to start tasting the result of this long work. Champagne is a wine for celebrations, but it is also a wine that can be enjoyed at any time of the meal.

Visit our Boutique to choose your Cuvées and surprise your guests with ever more original pairings.

Cin cin et à votre santé!