2018 Dekeyne & Fils Chardonnay Vignes de 1962 Extra Brut

The very first vines planted after phylloxera, in the finest south-facing plot in Bethon, by the brothers’ great-grandmother.

The importer says:

As the name suggests, this cuvee is 100% Chardonnay and is produced from the parcel planted in 1962. This parcel of vines slopes gently to the south and the soil has deep layers of limestone. Hand harvested grapes were slowly pressed in an old basket press and the juice was fermented with indigenous yeast in stainless steel tanks. The wine is allowed to go through its malo-lactic fermentation and bottling is done in the spring. The Champagne rests “sur-lattes” in their cellar for approximately three years before disgorgement. The dosage of 2g is prepared with cane sugar. The Dekeynes then age their Champagnes for another year before release.

Like the Vogloniers, this is from the great 2018 vintage – though being a very small producer (and importer), they seem to have inadvertently left this off the back label, only putting the bottling date of 2019 (same as the 2018 Vogloniers).

A profound old-vine, single-vineyard, pure Chardonnay Champagne. The pride of the domain.