- Wines in Portfolio -
LES BAUCHETS
Type: Dry sparkling
Color: Straw-gold with hints of copper, displaying a fine, persistent ‘bead’
Appellation: Champagne/ Vandières
Site & Vines: single parcel of Pinot Noir in Vandières. Clay and marl, southwest exposed, 30 year old vines.
Vinification & Elevage: Aged in a mix of tank and oak barrels. It spends 36 months aging on its lees before being disgorged and bottled as Extra-Brut, meaning it receives an even smaller dosage than a brut.
Age-ability: 10 years
Notes: highly perfumed nose of white cherry, red apple, dried rose petal, shortbread biscuit, wet stones, and citrus peel. The palate is dense and satisfying with great aromatic persistence on the long finish.
LA FONTINETTE
Type: Dry sparkling
Appellation: Champagne/ Châtillon
Site & Vines: single parcel of Pinot Meunier in Chatillon. Sandy marl, south-west facing. 50 year old vines.
Vinification & Elevage: Aged 30 months on the lees. Slow fermentation in vats without filtration. Aging in small oak barrels.
Production: 2153 bottles
Notes: An impressive and ageworthy wine that captures the power, structure and savory intensity of Pinot Meunier. Richly textured and highly expressive with some aeration this is a delicious and intense baby that will reward the patient.
LA TUILERIE
Type: Dry sparkling
Appellation: Champagne/ Vandières
Site & Vines: Southwest facing parcel of Chardonnay in Vandieres, right bank. Sand and limestone on marl.
Vinification & Elevage: Aged 36 months on the lees. Slow fermentation in vats without filtration. Aging in small oak barrels.
Production: 2857 bottles
Notes: Excellent tension between laser-like focus and rich texture.
Flavien Nowack
Champagne, Vallée de la Marne, Vandières
http://www.champagne-nowack.com/en/
Flavien Nowack began refocusing his family's estate on single vintage, single parcel bottlings in 2011. Passionate that nothing should come between the purest expression of terroir, he farms organically, does not chaptalize and does not seek malo-lactic fermentation. He relies on the natural yeast of unfermented grape must as his prise de mousse for the secondary fermentation in bottle. As a result, these Champagnes are lower in pressure than is typical and underscores the vinous quality of these exceptionally soft and delicate wines. He does not chaptalize and does not seek malo-lactic fermentation. A young talent with a clear vision.
Flavien Nowack’s family has been making traditional, blended champagnes in the Marne Valley for generations. Their estate is located in the village of Vandières and about 75% of the family’s vines are planted to Pinot Meunier, 25% to Chardonnay and 10% to Pinot Noir. Having studied with younger generation grower producers like Emmanuel Brochet, Flavien is gradually moving the family estate, parcel by parcel, in a new grower-oriented direction - focusing on organic farming, minimal intervention in the cellar and single parcel, single vintage bottlings. Each year since 2011 he selects a single parcel from the family estate to rehabilitate, transition to organic farming, and vinify in a way that he feels best captures the individual site.
At the same time wanting to explore the rich viticultural diversity in the Marne, he created a second range in his portfolio, Cru d'Origine, which features a single village. The fruit is a mixture of his own holdings and purchased fruit from like-minded, organic growers and is meant to be an exploration in site. His first release in the Cru d’Origine series focused on his native Vandières. His next release will be
All three of Flavien’s crus are at the same elevation, 100-120 meters and are on marne subsoil 1.5 to 2 meters below the surface. The wines are fermented 2/3 tank and 1/3 barrel (228 liter) with no new wood. Flavien keeps only the cuvée from the press for his champagnes.
