After a self imposed two week moratorium on Champagne offers (it’s been tough!) we’re back with bang today. First we re-introduced an old friend, Gaston-Chiquet’s one of a kind Blanc de Blancs from the Grand Cru village of Aÿ. And now, to follow that up we have the most exquisite Friday night bonus: A very limited, library release of Antoine and Nicolas Chiquet’s “Special Club.” Made from pristine Premier Cru fruit, aged for over eight years on the fine lees, and no many more post-disgorgement, this luxurious, incredibly elegant bottle of liquid gold has blown past the two decade mark with gusto, and it has at least another decade plus of improvement ahead of it. If vintage Champagne with an ideal amount of bottle age is your jam (and it really should be!) then don’t hesitate to pounce because we have only a couple of cases!
Champagne Gaston Chiquet has a history that spans eight generations—with the ninth in training—and has continuously farmed the vines of Champagne since 1746. Currently run by brothers Nicolas and Antoine, Champagne Gaston Chiquet now comprises 23 hectares (quite large by grower-producer standards) that are all located within Premier Cru and Grand Cru villages. For their 2004 Special Club they selected Chardonnay (70%) from their home village of Dizy, as well as a bit from Hautvilliers, and the Pinot Noir (30%) entirely from Dizy. The hand-picked fruit was fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks, and after a full malolactic fermentation it was bottled before undergoing its final fermentation (yes, that’s three total!) and then aging on the fine lees for a little over eight years. After disgorgement it was given a classically generous dosage of eight grams per liter.
Serve chilled, but not straight out of the fridge or ice box (around 50 degrees ideally) in all-purpose or even Burgundy stems. The nose leads with white flowers, citrus blossoms, lemon curd, white peach, nectarine, apple tart, hazelnut, sourdough, and wet rocks. The palate is rich and creamy, with up front fruits that confirm the nose, but that luxurious texture and fine perlage is balanced perfectly by a long, racy, and mineral drenched finish. Pair with some luxurious canapés and you will chase the winter away, or welcome the spring, and many more springs to come!
