A TOAST TO EXCELLENCE
The oldest independent Champagne house introduces the latest wine from the CUVÉE 700 SERIES, a unique blend of vintage wines expressing a fresh, lively, and complex profile
Producing great bubbly for more than two decades, Champagne Jacquesson continues to gain momentum year after year, earning several accolades along the way and being named one of the Top 3 Champagne Houses in 2005 La Revue Des Vins De France. Memmie Jacquesson founded it in 1798, the year of the French Revolution, making it the oldest independent Champagne house. More than two centuries ago, Champagne Jacquesson was the choice tipple of Napoleon Bonaparte, awarding the Champagne house a gold medal for its fine cellars.
Based in Dizy, a small French village located in Champagne, northeast of France. Its two land holdings are in two main areas, namely the Grande Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs. In the Grande Vallée de la Marne they have vines in Aÿ, a Grand Cru, as well as Dizy and Hautvillers both Premiers Crus. Most of the vineyards are sloping, facing east, south, or southwest where chalk varies in-depth underneath the soil. Following traditional growing techniques, little to no soil enrichment is practiced—soil is plowed or sown to grass, short prune, and most treatments are organic. Meticulous, the vineyard never uses the tailles (or the second pressing) selling it elsewhere and sometimes, even the first press juice is sold when the quality is deemed not good enough.
THE CUVÉE 700 SERIES
The Cuvée 700 is the only blended wine produced by Jacquesson. It is meant to be the expression of a year and thus each year offers a different identity which is recognized by numbering the cuvée. It is a blend of several years and is not allowed to be identified by one of the years involved. Logically, it needed to be identified by a number. Cuvée n° 1 had been made in 1898 to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Today, the latest in the series is n° 742, a blend of same vintage wines (2014) with the addition of 33% vin de reserve that was hailed by some of the world’s famed wine critics.
American wine critic Antonio Galloni, who is also the founder and CEO of Vinous (a highly influential wine publication), graded this Champagne with 94, citing it to be a gorgeous wine. He says, “In this release, the Cuvèe seems especially marked by Pinot in both its flavor and profile texture. Dried pear, hazelnut, mint, chamomile, and dried flowers all grace this rich, beautifully resonant Champagne from Jacquesson. Best of all, the 742 will drink well with minimal cellaring.
The 700-series Campagnes are often superb; the 742 is an especially fine edition. The blend is 59% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Diy, and Hautvillers) and 41% Chardonnay (from Avize and Oiry). Dosage is 1.5 grams per liter.”
On the other hand, former Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief of Wine Spectator and renowned wine and cigar critic James Suckling gave it a score of 93. “This is packed with interest and has a savory edge with big, grilled-almond and toasty feel to the nose, together with some fresh, crushed hazelnuts and green apples. The palate has a very bold and punchy feel with super crisp flavors and a big surge of acid-drenched power. Finishes bracingly dry. Based on the 2014 vintage. Drink now,” he shares.