Champagne Nicolas Maillart
Les Coupés "Franc de pied" 2018

The Champagne Les Coupés "Franc de Pied" 2018 by Nicolas Maillart is the fruit of 100% Pinot Noir planted by mass selection in 1973 in the Lieu-Dit Les Coupes in the village of Ecueil, classified as Premier Cru. This extraordinary Champagne comes from a plot located on sandy soil replanted without graft carrier, i.e. a vineyard free of phylloxera - which is an absolute rarity. Made only in the best years, with grapes harvested when perfectly ripe, left to ferment for a long time in oak barrels without malolactic fermentation, its first fermentation occurs 100% in wood for more than 6 months, and a second fermentation takes place in bottle for 5 years. No final dosage.

Very sharp, fresh and precise Champagne Blanc de Noirs to the nose. Refined, elegant and terribly sapid, with a complex finish in the mouth - but at the same time pure, tense and long, structured and persistent.

Produced in limited quantity for only 3,601bottles and 27 magnums.

Champagne Nicolas Maillart

The Maillart family's link with viticulture dates back to 1753, although a historical document dating back to 1553 has been found indicating a vine trail made by Pierre Maillart who worked at the Abbey of Saint Nicaise in Chamery. Now, with Nicolas Maillart, we are in front of the ninth generation of Vignerons and the family philosophy is perpetuated: their aim is to express in wines the potential of their terroir. All their vineyards are located in the Premier and Grand Cru villages in the Montagne de Reims area, exposed halfway up the hill and of mature age, where Pinot Noir is mainlt grown (75%), which, together with the finesse of Chardonnay, can express all its fruit and power.

Since 2009, the Maillarts have been further committed to respecting the environment by building 130 square metres of photovoltaic panels, which represent 90% of their production, and have also obtained the HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification for their excellent conduct and another important certification for sustainable viticulture.

The work in the cellar, careful to respect the personality and character of the grapes, involves the partial use of wood and parcellar vinification. All the "vins de réserve" are also partially aged in barriques to increase their complexity. At the time of blending, therefore, they have a wide variety of wines to choose from, which allows them to make Champagne of constant quality, but also to put aside the most original and particularly expressive ones.

An absolute rarity is a "free-footed" plot located on a sandy soil, halfway up the hill, where Pinot Noir without graft holder is grown. This vineyard has an unusual history that is worth mentioning, taking us back to the beginning of the 20th century and the damage caused by phylloxera after which the vineyards, including this particular plot, were gradually replanted with grafts. However, many plants died, except those that had developed their own root system. On the basis of this observation, it was decided to replant the entire plot in 1973 with a mass selection of not grafted Pinot Noir, as it had originally been. Over thirty years later, the vines are still alive and produce grapes of superior quality, so a specific Champagne was born - only in really great vintages. This Champagne is a reflection of Domaine Nicolas Maillart and their vocation to bring out the flavors of the terroir of the Champagne region.