Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules 2018 Cedric Bouchard

Tasting Note Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules 2018

First, floral notes reminiscent of tropical fruits emerge; all these aromas blend harmoniously against a backdrop of Pinot's characteristic red fruit aromas. With absolutely no dosage added, it feels very dry on the palate; the bubbles are fine rather than foamy, and the finish is chalky with a subtle saltiness. The 2018 Les Ursules is excellent to drink now, though it has the potential to develop even more depth of flavor over time.

Grape Varieties

Les Ursules is a Blanc de Noirs; the blue grapes are pressed quickly, so no color is extracted at all. Varieties grown here:

• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Meunier

Since no dosage is added, the fruity aromas of Pinot are very present.

Cellaring Potential

Best enjoyed by 2048. Due to its high acidity and the absence of dosage sugar, this Champagne becomes more structured rather than richer as it ages. Serve at 8-10°C, and use a white wine glass instead of a flute to allow the aromas to unfold more fully.

About Cedric Bouchard

In Champagne, blending is the norm. Cedric Bouchard does the opposite: every bottle comes from one grape variety, one plot and one harvest. His base in the Cotes de Bar covers just 1.3 hectares split across four small plots, all farmed organically, all aimed at showing what the site itself tastes like. Bouchard started in 2000, so there is no long family story behind the label. Grapes ferment at low temperature in stainless steel to keep the primary fruit intact, and after that very little happens. No clarification, no filtering, no stabilisation, no dosage. That puts these champagnes in the Brut Nature category, bone dry with almost no residual sugar. Pure, clean and precise, which is why they turn up at gastronomic dinners. Standout vintages include 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2020.

Terroir & Climate

Côte des Bar stands alone at the southernmost tip of Champagne, and Pinot Noir is what it does best. The soil is predominantly chalky: highly permeable, allowing rainwater to drain quickly, and releasing the heat accumulated during the day back into the soil at night. Bouchard cultivates just 1.3 hectares divided into four plots, one of which is Les Ursules. Small plots, chalky subsoil, and a finish that is salty rather than smooth: Champagne.

Winemaking

Fermenting the base wine at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks fully preserves the primary fruit aromas, this is the essence of Roses de Jeanne. It undergoes no fining, filtration, or stabilization. Furthermore, since no dosage, the sugar typically added by most wineries after disgorgement, is added, Les Ursules falls into the Brut Nature category. Because nothing is added to soften the flavor, the characteristics of the vineyard are revealed in their purest form.

Food Pairing

Blanc de Noirs pairs best with poultry; it goes particularly well with roast chicken or guinea fowl with a crispy skin. Veal is also a good match; simple escalopes or blanquette dishes work well, as the wine's acidity cuts through the richness of the cream. Oysters and langoustines pair well with its chalky texture and bone-dry finish.