Etienne Calsac Champagne 'Clos des Maladries' Avize Grand Cru 2018 750ml

Organic. 100% Chardonnay. Clos des Maladries is a Grand Cru, .16ha clos in Avize. The vines were planted in the early ’70s by Étienne's grandfather. The soil here is pure chalk of a prized type called belemnite, which is thought to impart greater minerality and acidity. The exposure is due south; the walls of the clos also retain heat, aiding in ripening. The vineyard is planted at a high density and plowed by horse. After harvesting with manual sorting in the vineyard, the grapes are pressed—as an homage to the old way of making Champagne, everything is included at press rather than just the ‘coeur de cuvée’. Fermentation occurs in old oak barrels. After fermentation the wines are kept on lees in those same vessels without racking for seven months, where it goes through malolactic. The wine stays on the lees for 48 months under cork before disgorging in June. Base vintage 2020. Dosage is 4 g/l (MCR). 1000 bottles produced. ‘Maladries’ is the name of a medieval hospital housing contagious patients; one was located on the vineyard site centuries ago.