Champagne Castelnau
Champagne house in Chouilly, Côte des Blancs.
- Village
- Chouilly (Grand Cru)
- Region
- Côte des Blancs
- Cuvées in the guide
- 5
Champagne Castelnau is a renowned champagne house with a rich history and a unique approach that stands out for its long ageing times.
History
The house was founded in 1916 in Reims (not Chouilly) by entrepreneurs from Épernay, named after General Édouard de Curières de Castelnau. Since 2003 the brand has been owned by the Coopérative Régionale des Vins de Champagne (CRVC), an independent cooperative that brings together almost 750 winegrowers. Since 2023 the management has been led by Hannelore Chamaux-Rima, while the chef de caves is responsible for vinification.
Vineyards
The CRVC manages a large share of vineyards, ranging between 800 and 900 hectares, spread over 144 to 155 crus throughout the Champagne region. The range uses the three classic grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The house style is characterised by complex blends with a relatively high proportion of ripe Chardonnay.
Approach
The core of the Castelnau experience is patience and long ageing. Where many champagnes age for a shorter time, the house opts for a minimum of six years for the Brut Réserve and up to ten years for the millésimes. This process, largely on the lees, results in champagnes with a gourmand amplitude (amplitude gourmande), brioche notes and a fresh finish. Production takes place on a 55,000 m² site in Reims, with a capacity of 13 million bottles a year.
Champagnes
The offering ranges from accessible everyday champagnes to exclusive cuvées:
- Brut Réserve: The core cuvée, elegant and complex with notes of brioche and citrus.
- Brut Rosé: Fruity, refined and slightly spicy in character.
- Vintage (Millésimé): Ages for up to 10 years, with a characterful and rich flavour.
- Hors Catégorie: A rare blend of wines that have aged for 8 to 10 years in oak barrels.
Note: The website `https://champagne-castelnau.com` that you mentioned does not appear to correspond to the official entity; the official domain is `https://www.champagne-castelnau.fr/` and the establishment is located in Reims, not in Chouilly.
Cuvées by Castelnau
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