Champagne Extra Brut
Solera 97-21

The Champagne Solera by Fabrice Pouillon is a tribute to the memory of time and to the continuity of the vineyards of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, a Premier Cru village from the Vallée de la Marne where clay-limestone soils over a chalk subsoil give Pinot Noir and Chardonnay ripeness, depth and a subtle mineral vein. Born from the idea of preserving, year after year, the trace of each harvest in a single perpetual reserve, this wine reflects an artisanal and patient vision, supported by vines farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles, which turns the layering of vintages into its defining signature.

This edition, 97-21, draws on a réserve perpétuelle of 25 vintages, started in 1997 and refreshed every year up to the 2021 harvest. The blend combines Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in equal parts, while vinification and fermentation take place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and full malolactic fermentation. Maturation took place in stainless steel until 2010 and now continues in large upright oak vats. After tirage, the wine rests on the lees for more than 36 months before dégorgement, and the final dosage of 3 g/l, in Extra Brut style, preserves the purity and complexity of the Domaine with restraint.

On tasting, Solera opens on the nose with bitter orange zest, ripe Williams pear and apple blossom, evolving towards toasted brioche, hazelnut, light honey and a delicate spicy note of Timut pepper, alongside a clear chalky nuance. On the palate it is full and vinous, with a silky, generous texture supported by lively acidity and a chalky salinity that define its balance, leading to a long, precise and savoury finish of great elegance and persistence.