{"id":35438,"date":"2023-01-09T15:30:22","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T14:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/?p=35438"},"modified":"2023-01-10T18:55:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T17:55:09","slug":"chassenay-darce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/09\/chassenay-darce\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s taste different Champagne assets from the C\u00f4te des Bar, with the Chassenay d’Arce cooperative"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"Following our previous article about the C\u00f4te des Bar (read here)<\/a>, we are glad to introduce you of its main players. Indeed, the Chassenay d’Arce house is a cooperative that was founded in 1956, precisely in the Aube department. For instance, this house reunites nowadays 130 members who cultivate 315 hectares, spread over ten villages in the Arce valley, near Bar-sur-Seine. You would observe here that this winery celebrates the king grape variety of the C\u00f4te des Bar, so to say Pinot Noir as the majority in the local grape variety.<\/strong><\/p>\n

By the way, throughout the year, the House is proud to highlight its champagnes through the organization of events and activities, as an expression of the C\u00f4te des Bar terroir<\/em> and particularly its Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soil. A good occasion to discover the richness of the local fauna and flora, as well as the talent of the regional artisans, creators and artists.<\/strong> By AP<\/em><\/p>\n

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…including some antique<\/strong> references inside it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A dream team<\/strong> in front of the domain…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Proud of an existence of more than 50 years, the Chassenay d’Arce<\/strong><\/a> is an original Champagne House<\/strong> also born around a cooperative<\/strong>, gathering 130 families of winegrowers<\/strong>, spread in and around over 12 villages disseminated through this C\u00f4te des Bars<\/strong> valley! From 2020, this giant family decided to converge into a new brand identity<\/strong>, allowing innovative<\/strong> projects in tune with the actual times and demand (photo credits: AP).<\/p>\n

This entity was created in 1956, between the walls of the former property<\/strong> of the Langres<\/strong>‘ bishopric, before adopting the definitive name of Chassenay d’Arce<\/strong>, in 1964. From this time, it gradually became the most important cooperative<\/strong> of the entire Aube<\/strong>, thanks to their approximately 1.6 million bottles<\/strong> produced per year nowadays, after an annual harvest on more than 315 hectares of vineyards<\/strong>. <\/p>\nngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n

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..especially when the random results<\/strong> pay!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Harvest<\/strong> time is the key point of the year..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Furthermore, thanks to these mutual efforts paid by this company of winegrowers<\/strong>, they complete each other in a way that there can even be several personalities for their grapes<\/strong>. Thus, this phenomenon starts at least by their harvest<\/strong> planning, that may even differ from week between two neighboring villages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In order to prevent this, prior the harvest<\/strong>, nearly 300 analyzes on the vines<\/strong> are carried out by their own Champagne Maturity Network<\/strong>, and help the winegrowers<\/strong> to anticipate their future, up to 3 weeks before the start of the forecast<\/strong>. Added to this, they can share their common constraints<\/strong>, inherent to the entire Champagne<\/strong> appellation, such as not using water<\/strong> on certain dry periods… For instance, this cause can create in some years, for example in 2020, some scalding on the grapes<\/strong>, unfortunately excluding them from the final juice<\/strong>.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_1_placeholder\n

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..but soon full, on this boulevard of grapes<\/strong>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Those baskets<\/strong> are empty for now in the rows..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As far as you can see, this union makes the strength. That’s why a wider range of references was deployed, including the most recent in terms of an organic<\/strong> cuv\u00e9e, coming from only 3 plots<\/strong>. Issued at the end of 2019, this vintage 2013<\/strong> is naturally part of an active process of the house focused on a certain environmental<\/strong> commitment, along many other investments operated over the last years in winery<\/strong> and aging cellars<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Apart from this, the last collective<\/strong> action<\/strong> was to become the first Champagne House<\/strong>, in 2021<\/strong>, to obtain the Vignerons Engag\u00e9s<\/strong><\/a> label, through a series of sustainable<\/strong> actions. In addition to this jewel, this sparkling family of winegrowers<\/strong> has joined forces to initiate a few other marvels, including a rare champagne<\/strong>, fully composed of Pinot Blanc<\/strong>. Indeed, despite this grape variety<\/strong> only occupies 2% of their territory, its fruits may offer a long list of tasting<\/strong> benefits. <\/p>\n

In short, this terroir<\/strong><\/em> offers a selection of fine and light wines<\/strong>, in contrast to other kinds of champagnes<\/strong> that could appear as a bit rounder.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"Although, in a motivation of permanent innovation, the Chassenay d’Arce<\/strong> house has built a cutting-edge<\/strong> tool, lately including several a brand new packaging<\/strong>. Therefore, you would be surely happy to discover these cuv\u00e9es<\/em><\/strong>, proud of their finesse <\/em>and elegance to explore over time, and the explicit accessibility of these juices<\/strong>, have naturally already seduced its consumers towards 18 export countries<\/strong> and at renowned wine<\/strong> merchants in France<\/strong> (such as Le <\/strong>Printemps du Go\u00fbt<\/strong> and Le Repaire de Bacchus<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

By the way, if you get the opportunity the 19th century underground cellars<\/strong> of Chassenay d’Arce<\/strong>, ask to your guide to taste the bourru<\/strong><\/em> (a juice which just started its fermentation process, enlightened with a bunch of selected and non-native yeasts<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Their first range, Les<\/strong> Essentielles<\/strong><\/em> range announces the color, thanks to its prominent Pinot Noir<\/strong> blends, as we have just seen, one of the main ambassadors<\/strong> of this C\u00f4te des Bar<\/strong>. Developed in the purest Champagne<\/strong> tradition, this selection of 4 bottles<\/strong> benefits from an aging on lees<\/strong> during an honorable period, covering between 3 to 7 years.<\/p>\n

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This Cuv\u00e9e Ros\u00e9<\/em><\/strong> would share you its fruity<\/strong> aromas..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among them, we get through the Essentielles Range<\/strong><\/em>, as a good introduction to understand the spirit of this C\u00f4te des Bar<\/strong>. This line contains the Cuv\u00e9e S\u00e9lection<\/strong><\/em> as a blend<\/strong> includes the fruits from several harvests<\/strong>, offering a large role to the Pinot Noir<\/strong> a large role to play, along the minority Chardonnay<\/strong> and Pinot Meunier<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Thereafter, this range also features the Cuv\u00e9e Premi\u00e8re<\/strong><\/em>, shared between 62% Pinot Noir<\/strong> and 38% Chardonnay<\/strong>, based on different harvest<\/strong> years, extending from 2005 until 2015. Happily bottled in 2016 (therefore 4 years under glass<\/strong>), for a dosage of 9 grams of sugar and in the end a beautiful aromatic<\/strong> richness to be appreciated especially with sea food <\/strong>(photo credits: Chassenay).<\/p>\n

Furthermore, let’s get surprised by semi-dry Cuv\u00e9e Apolline <\/strong><\/em>(not sold anymore), a charming blend of half Pinot Noir<\/strong> and Chardonnay<\/strong> varieties, plus a glance of Pinot Blanc<\/strong> and Pinot Meunier<\/strong>. A round and smooth ensemble, moderately sweet but enough to enhance its gourmet<\/strong><\/em> notes, presenting aromas<\/strong> of candied fruit<\/strong>, brioche<\/strong><\/em> and sweet spices<\/strong>, obviously dedicated to get married with pastries<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

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Don’t forget to keep your champagne<\/strong> bottle at a cool temperature<\/strong> between 8 and 10 degrees..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On top that, you couldn’t miss their Cuv\u00e9e<\/em> Ros\u00e9<\/em><\/strong>, where 13% of red wine<\/strong> has been completing, before bottling, this blend of several harvests<\/strong>, composed of 60% Pinot Noir<\/strong>, 33% Chardonnay<\/strong>, 5% Pinot Meunier<\/strong> and only 2% Pinot Blanc<\/strong>. Although it has been 27% malo-blocked<\/strong>, this friendly but frank cuv\u00e9e<\/strong><\/em> is proud of its subtle fruity<\/strong> notes, to accompany an aperitif<\/strong> or a dessert<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the Caract\u00e8res<\/strong><\/em> category, as its name suggests, you may explore different vintages<\/strong> full of character, underlined by a majority of Pinot Blanc<\/strong>, Pinot Noir<\/strong> and Chardonnay<\/strong>. This time, these champagnes<\/strong> in this range are still aged on lees<\/strong> but between 5 to 10 years. We could invite you to have a look at the already enunciated Blanc de Noirs 2012<\/strong><\/em>, on our article<\/strong> dedicated to millesimes <\/strong><\/em>(read here)<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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Many champagnes<\/strong> of Chassenay d’Arce<\/strong> are perfect for aperitifs<\/strong><\/em>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Otherwise, in the same category, discover the unique Pinot Blanc<\/strong> 2012<\/strong><\/em>, another Extra Brut<\/strong> juice since it’s just dosed at a low level of 3g of sugar. This nectar<\/strong><\/em> is only and surprisingly composed of this rare grape variety<\/strong> is a real house speciality<\/strong> and may appear as very aromatic<\/strong>, either in contact with your olfactory<\/strong> and gustative<\/strong> sense or at the end, all around your spirit<\/strong>. What a chain reaction<\/strong>! <\/p>\n

Then, again with a fewer portion of Pinot Blanc<\/strong>, bringing some structure and personality, we find the Blanc de Blancs 2012<\/strong><\/em>, starring a generous dosage of 7g, and thus mostly based on harvest of the powerful and not very acidic grapes of Chardonnay<\/strong>, collected in 2012<\/strong>. A gracious juice<\/strong> adorned with some main notes of white fruits<\/strong> and yellow fruits<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"On top of that, why don’t you try the Vintage<\/strong> Brut 2008<\/strong><\/em>? This blend of Pinot Noir<\/strong> and Chardonnay<\/strong> (not sold anymore) evolves in a harmonious and collective expression<\/strong> of the original harvest<\/strong> dating from 2008<\/strong>, displaying a fresh and elegant style of this fine production, for a dosage<\/strong> of 8g. A real premium dimension, with a great aging potential<\/strong>, plus able to amplify its smoky<\/strong> and liquorice<\/strong> notes.<\/p>\n

Last but not least, the Confidentielles<\/strong><\/em> is the typical premium<\/strong> range, able to reveal the capacity of Chassenay d’Arce<\/strong> to deal with two exceptional cuv\u00e9es<\/em><\/strong> as authentic reflects of the know-how<\/strong> of this grouping of winegrowers<\/strong>. For instance, there are two propositions, the Confidences 2009<\/strong><\/em> and the Confidences Ros\u00e9 2012<\/strong><\/a><\/em>, both predominantly composed of Pinot Noir <\/strong>and from the oldest vines<\/strong> in their vineyards<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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An elixir<\/strong><\/em> eventually to appreciate at the occasion of a romantic<\/strong> night..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For instance, this Confidences Ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/a><\/em> offers the best memories from 2012<\/strong> and therefore is naturally packed in a luxury<\/strong> package, for a better protection of its precious juice<\/strong>. Before revealing its intense color with tiled reflections, its nuanced aromas<\/strong> of red fruits<\/strong> and liquorice<\/strong>. All the complexity and elegance that characterizes the subtle alliance of Pinot Noir<\/strong>, Chardonnay<\/strong> and Pinot Blanc<\/strong> grapes, that all crown this champagne<\/strong> into a wine<\/strong> with such a rich and flamboyant personality.<\/p>\n

For your interest, 6 years were needed to age these bottles<\/strong> on lees, for the proper expression of the balanced blending<\/strong> organized around the finest grapes<\/strong> from the oldest vines<\/strong> of the domain and shared between the main proportion of Pinot Noir<\/strong>, including 13% of red wine<\/strong>, along the minorities of Chardonnay<\/strong> and Pinot Blanc<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Thus, the ancestral<\/strong> methods of manual riddling<\/strong> and dressing<\/strong> lead to a vinification<\/strong><\/em> in the pure Champagne<\/strong> tradition, within thermoregulated<\/strong> stainless steel vats<\/strong> and even in undergrowth for a tiny quantity of that wine<\/strong>. In another hand, the action of blocking the malolactic<\/strong> fermentation implies a fact that the natural acidity<\/strong> compensates for the singular taste emanating from the terroir<\/strong><\/em> and even contributes to the longevity of this unique wine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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..unless you prefer enjoying in vintage champagne<\/strong> glasses.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The result is an accessible and elegant premium millesime<\/em> champagne<\/strong>, thanks to its slightly salmon pink<\/strong> dress, along an active effervescence<\/strong><\/em> exhibiting a continuous flow of generous and fine bubbles<\/strong>, in your cup. Then, you should admire its expressive fragrance<\/strong>, full of the gourmet<\/strong><\/em> and fresh<\/strong> notes of white and red fruits<\/strong>, such as wild berries<\/strong>, but also spices<\/strong>, floral<\/strong> and mineral<\/strong> notes. Logically, once tasted, discover a true intense champagne ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/em>, happy to share its delicious unctuous substance<\/strong>, enhanced by a velvety<\/strong> structure and a visible finesse<\/em><\/strong>. With this Confidences<\/strong> cuv\u00e9e<\/em>, you would both discover the quintessence<\/em> of this Chassenay d’Arce<\/strong> tribe but also open the doors of luxury<\/strong>, before enjoy the persistence of a clean and tense finish<\/strong>, to accompany your most refined dishes<\/strong>, possibly at exclusive occasions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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..a label<\/strong>, made from recycled paper<\/strong> with natural<\/strong> fibers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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36 months of transition<\/strong> are necessary to get organic<\/strong> certified..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Apart from this, since Chassenay d’Arce<\/strong> is fully committed to an environmental<\/strong> approach, notably through the leading of several responsible actions<\/strong> signifying the defense of the local fragile environment<\/strong>. After obtaining the Vignerons Engag\u00e9s<\/strong> label, and a first organic<\/strong> Millesime 2013<\/em><\/strong>, issued in 2019<\/strong>, regarded as quite different from conventional wines<\/strong>, since it was vinified in wooden<\/strong> barrels, without dosage<\/strong>, to the point that the cooperative<\/strong> has opted for the launch of two other new revolutionary cuv\u00e9es<\/strong><\/em>, of course entirely composed of Pinot Noir<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

These cuv\u00e9es<\/strong> were only made with grapes<\/strong>, issued from organic farming<\/strong>, as 2013<\/strong> being the first year of production<\/strong>, in an area<\/strong> which is estimated today at more than 7 hectares<\/strong>. Fully certified in organic farming<\/strong> and where in this case, three winegrowers<\/strong> are involved in this process on their own initiative<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

With this new green<\/strong> range, Chassenay d’Arce <\/strong>wishes to act as a pioneer in this organic<\/strong> field and in the same time, intend to change the classic codes of Champagne<\/strong> wines, by proposing here an eco-responsible<\/strong> experience.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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..embodied in those minimalist white bottles<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A dynasty of organic<\/strong> grapes of Pinot Noir<\/strong> would build this legend..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is why we invite you to discover the Cuv\u00e9e Origine Extra Brut<\/strong><\/em>, which offers a fine and lively bubble<\/strong>, all asserted by a light yellow<\/strong> robe, enhanced with a few copper<\/strong> highlights.<\/p>\n

Traditionally vinified<\/strong>, of which a quarter of the cuv\u00e9e<\/strong><\/em> is aged in wooden<\/strong> barrels, you would surely be able to appreciate here a mineral<\/strong> but expressive<\/strong> juice, in particular thanks to an extra-brut<\/strong> dosage and an aging<\/strong> of four years on the lees<\/strong>. Adding to this, this champagne<\/strong> displays a powerful, complex and generous fragrance<\/strong>, which offers us aromas of yellow fruits<\/strong>, along some woody<\/strong> and smoky<\/strong> notes. Then, this cuv\u00e9e<\/strong><\/em> would reveal to you in your mouth, its round<\/strong> and woody<\/strong> notes, preceding a structured<\/strong> and mineral<\/strong> final note. Perfect to associate this rare (only produced at 6,000 copies) but accessible champagne<\/strong>, with fishes<\/strong> and any other exotic<\/strong> dishes.<\/p>\n

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..enjoy some audace<\/strong> in this 2014 vintage<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A blue sky<\/strong> and a bright weather<\/strong> naturally lead to a good production<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In another hand, don’t miss the organic<\/strong> alternative Cuv\u00e9e Audace Extra Brut 2014<\/em><\/strong>, still fully composed of Pinot Noir<\/strong>, but this time from the 2014<\/strong> harvest. For instance, this millesimed<\/strong><\/em> champagne<\/strong> is again traditionally vinified<\/strong>, starring 20% of the cuv\u00e9e<\/strong><\/em> vinified in wooden barrels<\/strong>. It’s not a mystery that the elegance from the Arce Valley<\/strong> can be truly unveiled in this cuv\u00e9e<\/strong><\/em>, following the specific character<\/strong> and the own identity<\/strong> offered by the organic farming<\/strong> method.<\/p>\n

For your information, six years of aging on lees<\/strong>, and an extra-brut<\/strong> dosage were mandatory to express the fresh<\/strong> and dynamic<\/strong> temper from this 2014<\/strong> harvest. Once open, don’t miss the lively bubbles<\/strong> conveyed by this expressive<\/strong> juice, adorned by aromas of yellow fruits<\/strong>, white flowers<\/strong>, and even some woody<\/strong> and spicy<\/strong> notes. A sustainable<\/strong> palate (that can improve in the future<\/strong>) shares a fine bucket of fruits<\/strong> and flowers<\/strong>, perfect as an aperitif<\/strong>, but also iodine<\/strong> tables.<\/p>\n

More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a> and explore there their wide range of products<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n

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Following our previous article about the C\u00f4te des Bar (read here), we are glad to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":36158,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[822,24],"tags":[914,187,923,1332,918,1019,604],"class_list":["post-35438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-far-east-2","category-gastronomy","tag-aube","tag-champagne","tag-chassenay-darce","tag-cooperative","tag-cote-des-bar","tag-millesime","tag-organic"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35438"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36191,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35438\/revisions\/36191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}