NV Nathalie Falmet Brut
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Tasting notes
Small estate (3.2 ha (8 acres), making some 30,000 bottles per annum), mostly in of Rouvres-les-Vignes, on the south-eastern edge of Champagne’s Aube, with 0.4 ha the other side of Bar-sur-Aube in Arsonval. The prized vineyard of the estate is a single parcel of senior Pinot Noir and Meunier vines on south-facing Le Val Cornet outside the village, which makes a cuvée of the same name. In all, 2.1 ha are planted to Pinot Noir, 0.5 ha is Chardonnay and 0.6 ha Meunier. The viticulture is lutte raisonnée, on clay and Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Falmet uses stainless steel, older barrels and terracotta amphorae, as well as solera reserves begun in 2008. This is 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay. Base 2014 plus 30% reserves. Fermentation in stainless steel. Malo done. Bottled March 2015, disgorged June 2018. Dosage 5 g/l. Fairly neutral but well-settled nose. Very easy to like; not too challenging! But not dull. GV ? (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The NV Brut is made of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay (both 2011) and 20% Reserve (from a Soléra started in 2009). Its refined aromas of bright fruits migrate to a very light and delicate first palate. This champagne is dry (dosage: seven grams per liter) and firmly structured, but really fine and elegant, and provided with a good length and subtle mineral flavors.
Champagne grower Nathalie bills herself as a Vigneronne Oenologue on the label and is based in Rouvres Les Vignes in the Côte des Bar. The back label helpfully tells us that the blend is based on the 2010 vintage and was disgorged on 2 December 2013. Dosage is 8 g/l. There seems to be a bit of Pinot pinkness in the colour here. Then it's super brisk on the nose – almost liquid adrenaline! Very fresh, not especially deep flavoured, but certainly sincere. Excellent persistence. (JR)
The NV Brut is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay from the Cote des Bar. This intriguing Champagne reveals tons of brilliance in a focused, powerful style. The wine needs to be opened in advance in order to show the full breadth of its expression, and will be even better in a few months’ time once it has fully recovered from its relatively recent disgorgement. Hazelnuts, pears and minerals linger on the close. Disgorged March 15, 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2014. ||These are the first wines I have tasted from Nathalie Falmet, and I am deeply impressed. Wine Advocate.December, 2010