From: Champagne, France
Varietal: Chardonnay
Critical Acclaim: "Pale yellow. Vibrant citrus fruit and mineral aromas show impressive clarity and lift. Tangy, focused and stony on the palate, offering intense lemon/lime and quince flavors and a deeper honeydew quality that comes up with air. Finishes with resonating mineral and lemon zest notes, very good energy and a touch of anise. More lithe and feminine than last year's release; this would be a great Champagne to pair with oysters or minimally adorned shellfish." - 91 pt Josh Reynolds, Vinous Media
Taste: NV Champagne Claude Genet Chouilly Grand Cru Brut dazzles with vibrant citrus and quince flavors, softened by an undercurrent of honeydew melon. Aromas of ripe apple, pear, peach, and a medley of tropical fruits meet with subtle notes of cream, butter, and vanilla bean. The palate showcases a lively balance of fruit and minerality, with a crisp finish marked by lemon zest and a whisper of anise.
Pairing: Pair the NV Champagne Claude Genet Chouilly Grand Cru Brut with Linguine tossed with fresh clams and fennel. The wine's inherent minerality mirrors the brininess of the clams, while its citrus notes balance the aromatic qualities of the fennel. This pairing elevates both the Champagne's complexity and the dish's richness, creating a genuinely gratifying culinary experience. Other fantastic pairing options include seafood tapas including gravlax, curry-fennel mussels and fish terrine, fresh produce-driven dishes like snap pea risotto/pasta, pea-vine salads, squash blossom empanadas/dumplings/pierogies (check out the recipe below for William Norwich’s Squash Blossom Quesadillas), cucumber sandwiches, slices of parmesan, or dry goat’s cheese.
Squash Blossom Quesadillas
By William Norwich
About. The Genet family's winemaking roots in Chouilly, the gateway to the Côte des Blancs, have left an indelible mark on the landscape of Champagne. Charles Genet, Claude's youngest son, continues to steer the ship, managing 6 hectares, although only 1.5 ha of fruit goes into domaine production. The remaining fruit finds its way into some of the big champagne houses in the area.
The soil in this remarkable region is rich in Belemnite chalk, a factor that has contributed to the quality of wines from this estate. Compared to many Chouilly producers, the Genets are not restricted to producing Blanc de Blancs Champagne (though, of course, this wine is a Blanc de Blancs), thanks to the presence of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in certain areas. Their Rosé champagnes stand tall on the quality pyramid, making Claude Genet a significant name in Champagne production.
The grand cru village of Chouilly boasts an outstanding combination of well-drained limestone and chalky soil. The cold, continental climate ensures ample acidity, while weather variations from year to year create intriguing differences between vintages. Non-vintage cuvées such as the NV Champagne Claude Genet Chouilly Grand Cru Brut are blended over several years, preserving a consistent house style.
Located just east of Épernay and south of Marne, Chouilly's vineyards exhibit a rich style with buttery notes or tropical fruit aromas and less intense mineral character than its grand cru neighbors. The village's historical grand cru/premier cru status for different grape varieties, promoted in 1985, has evolved into a unified grand cru status without restrictions.
Crafted with 100% Chardonnay, the grapes are pneumatically pressed at low pressure, and the juice ferments in stainless steel vats. After aging in steel tanks for 6 to 8 months, the wine follows the méthode champenoise from bottling to capping.
Josh Reynolds of Vinous Media eloquently describes the wine as featuring "vibrant citrus fruit and mineral aromas," with "intense lemon/lime and quince flavors" and profound honeydew quality. The finish resonates with mineral and lemon zest notes, with good energy and a touch of anise. This particular release has been praised for being more "lithe and feminine" than the previous year and earned a commendable rating of 91 from Vinous Media. The palate finds delightful flavors of apple, pear, peach, apricot, citrus fruits, and tropical notes balanced with butter, cream, and vanilla nuances.
Champagne and seafood are natural partners, and the NV Champagne Claude Genet Chouilly Grand Cru Brut is no exception. Try pairing this vibrant bubbly with Linguine with clams and fennel. The minerality mirrored with the clams helps to elevate and open up the aromatic qualities of the fennel, creating a dining experience that complements the complexity of this exceptional Champagne.
