Jacquinot & Fils Harmonie Blanche 2015 Gift Box with 2 glasses and recorker

Country/Region: France, Champagne

Background: HISTORY
Pierre Jacquinot and his two sons, Jacques and Jean-Guy, created Champagne Jacquinot & Fils in 1947. Pierre was seriously injured in WWI by a mustard gas attack when he was just 18 years old, and so he decided to convert his physically demanding family farm into a vineyard once he returned from the war. Once returned from the war, he also became a grape broker for Champagne Mercier, which required him to buy and sell grapes from the local grape growers. In 1929, he set up his own pressing centre to process the purchased grapes. As he was injured in the war, he spent his winters on the French Riviera to rest and recover. To sustain himself during the winters, he sold Champagne for Champagne Watteau. After the Second World War, Pierre and his two sons decided to produce their own Champagne since they already had all of the necessary supplies: a vineyard, a pressing centre, a small winery and a network of customers. At that time, it was impossible to make and sell Champagne from any town other than Reims or Epernay, and so that is why they purchased this winery here in Epernay. Today, our family has 17 ha (42 acres) of vines, and we grow the traditional three Champagne varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Jean-Manuel Jacquinot, the son of Jean-Guy, has been the oenologist and wine maker at Champagne Jacquinot since 1998, and became the executive director in 2009. François Nicolet, Jacques’ son-in-law, joined the company in 2009 as the marketing manager.

Winemaking: Pressing on our old press from 1929. 20 % is fermented in new barrel and matured in the same barrel for 6 month. 40 % is matured in stain less steel tank and 40 % in concrete tanks. Batonnage is done every 15 days before topping. The Malolactic fermentation is not done and the base wine is unfiltered.
Bottled in March 2016 and disgorging date is mentioned on the back label.

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

Tasting note: The champagne is very nice foam and very creamy foam. Nose of spices, lemon, vanilla honey. The French oak is coming but not powerful with a nice acidity and a nice freshness. Liquorice is developing at the end.

Food Pairing: Chilled to between six andeight degrees, this makes an excellent aperitif or accompaniment to seafood or poultry.