N.V. Pascal Doquet "Arpege" Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut, Champagne, France (750ml)
About the Icons
The grapes for this Blanc de Blancs, or 100% Chardonnay, come from Pascal Doquet's vines in Vertus, Villeneuve and Mont Aimé, 62% from the 2010 harvest and 38% from the 2011 harvest. It was bottled in March of 2012 and disgorged in April of 2015 with 5 grams per liter dosage, making it an Extra Brut, or very dry Champagne.
The medium gold color telegraphs well its medium body and creamy mid-palate of Braeburn apple and lemon citrus flavors. The texture embodies a true silkiness throughout and is most apparent on the long finish that also ends on a slightly yeasty, nutty note. Given that it's an Extra Brut with a very low dosage of 5 grams per liter it thankfully doesn't come off as overly austere in its acidity, instead it just feels nicely dry and crisp. Pascal Doquet started helping out in his family’s Champagne business, Doquet-Jeanmaire, in 1982 and took over running it in 1995 when his father Michel retired. From the beginning, Pascal was focused on sustainable viticulture and became one of the first members of “Lutte Raisonée” which means “sustainable farming” in French and is also the name of a small group of growers, now about 25 in total, in Champagne who adhere to sustainable practices in their vineyards. By 2000, he convinced his parents to stop all chemical treatments and tried to change the farming philosophy at the domaine to be more environmentally conscious. However, there was a split within the family in 2004 which allowed Pascal to take over his sister’s parcels and continue his research into organic farming methods under his new eponymous label. By 2010, all of his 8.6 hectares of vines, mainly in the Côtes des Blancs villages of Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Le Mont Aimé and Vertus, where the winery is located, were certified organic. Today, Pascal Doquet is considered one of the finest grower-producers in Champagne and is highly respected for his beautifully tended vineyards.