Champagne Extra Brut
Les Blanches Maladries

The Champagne Les Blanches Maladries by Carré Frères is one of the most intense expressions of Verzy, a Grand Cru village of the Montagne de Reims where chalk lies just beneath lean, free-draining soils and gives the wines tension and mineral depth. The name of the cuvée comes from the meeting of two plots of the same terroir, the lieux-dits La Blanche Voie and Les Maladries, in a dialogue between finesse and power. The result is a wine with a strong sense of place, able to convey the character of each single plot with remarkable fidelity.

This edition, from the 2022 harvest, brings together Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes in equal parts, with the former adding drive and freshness while the latter adds depth and structure. Vinification and fermentation take place with indigenous yeasts in new 300-litre oak barrels, where the wine matures for 11 months following an essential cellar approach free of unnecessary intervention. After the tirage comes a long ageing on the lees of about 30 months, which gives the wine a more vinous and complex dimension. The final dosage of 1.5 g/l, in Extra Brut style, preserves the purity of the terroir and the clarity of expression.

On tasting, Les Blanches Maladries 2022 shows a bright straw yellow hue with a fine, continuous perlage. The nose opens with notes of citrus, white fruit and wild flowers, enriched by hints of toasted hazelnut, pastry and a chalky touch recalling the chalk of Verzy. On the palate it reveals great tension and a full structure, where the freshness of Chardonnay and the flesh of Pinot Noir find a harmonious balance supported by vibrant salinity. The finish is dry, long and persistent, with mineral and citrus echoes that confirm the quality of its terroir of origin.