Barrat-Masson 'Fleur de Craie' NV Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Côte de Sézanne, Champagne

750ml bottle

12.5% abv

Crisp and chalk-driven, with bright lemon, pear, green apple, white flowers, subtle brioche, and roasted nuts. Taut, mineral, and linear, with fine bubbles and a long, saline finish.

100% Chardonnay from 40-year-old vines on chalky soils in the Côte de Sézanne. Certified organic, hand-harvested, and fermented in a mix of stainless steel and used oak with partial malo. Aged ~30 months on lees, hand-disgorged, and bottled with little to no dosage (Extra Brut / Brut Nature).

Champagne Barrat-Masson is the project of Aurélie Barrat and Loïc Masson, a wife and husband team who farm seven hectares of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in on the slopes of the Sézannais in Champagne’s Côte de Sézanne region.

In 2005, Loïc took over the family farm in Bethon, and promptly began to replace conventional herbicides with organic treatments and vineyard practices. Supported by Aurélie, a trained oeonologist, Loïc had fully committed his vineyards to organic winegrowing by 2009. Presently, the wines of Barrat-Masson are certified organic by Ecocert. Soon thereafter, they renovated several buildings on the family farm, and installed a wine press (Coquard), vat room and cellars for aging their wines.

At Barrat-Masson, the quality of the grapes is paramount, and for this reason Loïc’s work and attention to detail in the vineyard is paramount. With healthy grapes harvested at optimum ripeness, Aurélie then takes over; expert winemaking conducted in a manner to be as minimally intrusive as possible. Each parcel is vinified separately in either stainless steel tank or barrel (demi-muid), and special attention is paid towards working with the Coeur de Cuvée, or the first press of the juice from the incoming harvest. This enables Aurélie to have a detailed vision of each the domaine’s parcels in order to perform precise blends that will ensure wines of character over time.

Loïc’s experience, combined with Aurélie’s knowledge and technical precision allow Barrat-Masson Champagnes to achieve a level of intensity, sophistication and authenticity that communicate the terroir of the Côte de Sézanne and the grandeur of Champagne.