2019 Champagne Christophe Baron Champagne Les Closeaux Crouttes-sur-Marne
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Sourced from a comparatively warm, early-ripening site in Crouttes-sur-Marne near the river, characterized by alluvial soils atop limestone, Christophe Baron's 2019 Brut Nature Les Closeaux delivers a standout performance. Disgorged in May 2023 without dosage, it erupts from the glass with an aromatic bouquet of tangerine peel, cherry plum and dried flowers mingling with beeswax. On the palate, it is full-bodied and vibrant—vinous, multidimensional and concentrated—laden with tangy acidity, complemented by a pillowy mousse and concluding with a long, saline finish. Harmonious and seamless, it exemplifies the best attributes of the vintage.
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James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Amalfi lemons, Asian pears, seashells and sourdough on the nose, with a touch of honeysuckle and some celery salt. Itâs delicate but powerful on the palate, with tight and very fine bubbles, vibrant acidity and a long, structured and salty finish. So fresh and so full of potential. 100% pinot meunier from a vineyard planted in 1925. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.
My favorite of the Christophe Baron offerings, the 2019 Champagne Les Closeaux Brut Nature ("The Little Clos") is sourced from a single parcel in the village of Croutte-sur-Marnes from vines planted in 1925. It’s compelling on opening, with more depth and a layered profile, offering lots of pure Meunier fruit of framboise, shortbread, orange blossoms, and chalky earth. Moving to the palate with ease, this medium to full-bodied Champagne rounds out the palate with a pillowy mousse and a long, even, and balanced finish. Although it’s open now, I expect this to have a good deal of longevity over the coming 12-15 years. Disgorged May 2023. 1499 magnums produced.
Savory and mineral, the 2019 Brut Nature Les Closeaux races across the palate, offering waves of saline-drenched Meunier character. A Champagne of nerve and tension, the Les Closeaux is nicely finessed and quite restrained. Sourced from vines planted in 1925, this saw no dosage. Disgorged: May, 2023.