Domaine Nowack, 'La Fontinette' Champagne Extra Brut 2018

100% Meunier

Vallee de la Marne, Champagne, France

Sourced entirely from a 1 ha plot called La Fontinette located in the middle altitude slopes of Vandieres (Mi-Coteau). The vines were planted in 1965. The soils is brown sand & clay with marine subsoil (about 1.5-2 meters under the surface) and the exposure is southwest at 100-120 meters above sea level. Spontaneous fermentation in a combination of small oak barrels and stainless steel. Ageing in small oak barrels for the vin clair. The vin clair is not chaptalized, fined, filtered, or cold stabilized and naturally goes through malo on its own in the Spring. Ageing on the cork for secondary fermentation using MCR for 30 months. 

Flavien Nowack is an 8th generation grower and visionary winemaker working in his home village of Vandières. His 10 hectares (~25 acres) of vineyards are farmed organically and biodynamically, with a focus on restoring biodiversity through trees, cover crops, and a variety of wildlife. These bubbles are fermented naturally with minimal sulfur, extended aging in oak, and often five years or more under cork/capsule before release. The result is elegant, fresh, mineral, textured, and delicate Champagne. Nowack stands out in our Champagne selection for being drier/leaner than most!