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DEKEYNE Champagne Extra Brut ‘Vogloniers’ NV: $70

(Carefully curated notes below are taken directly from the Producer’s website)

Varietal Composition

50% old-vine Chardonnay, 40% young-vine Chardonnay, & 10% Pinot Noir

Location

La Voglonière / Côte de Sézanne / Champagne, France

Quote from the Producer: 

“Our desire is to put nature back at the heart of our process of developing our vintages. To highlight sincere Champagne wines whose each terroir fully reveals its character. To move towards a path oriented towards gentle methods of plant care by plants, using the principles of permaculture in order to live better in harmony with our environment. A greener, autonomous viticulture and therefore committed to the cultivation of living soil.”

Process & Aging 

Hand-harvested grapes are slowly pressed in an old basket press. The juice is fermented with indigenous yeast in stainless steel tanks. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is bottled in the spring. It rests “sur-lattes” in the cellar for approximately three years before disgorgement, with a dosage of 4g prepared with cane sugar. The Champagne is aged for another year before release.

A Few More Details…

Vogloniers is the name given to people who lived in the small hamlet of “La Voglonière” when the Dekeynes first arrived in 1919.

The vineyard is known for its self-sufficient ecosystem, using only plant-based fertilizers and producing their own tisanes from plants grown on their property.

Tasting Notes from the Winemaker

A blend of their three main parcels, pale gold with fine bubbles, this Champagne offers a balance of fruit and minerality with a refined and elegant palate. Aromas of citrus fruits, white flowers, and a hint of brioche. Crisp and refreshing with flavors of green apple, lemon zest, and a touch of minerality. The wine has a balanced acidity and a long, clean finish.

Food Pairing

Pairs well with seafood, poultry, and light appetizers.

Keep or drink?

As with all of the champagnes we provide you, they are ready to drink now. However, if you wish to save them, it can be helpful to remember this following tip:

“As a rule, non-vintage Champagnes can be kept unopened for three to four years, and vintage cuvées for five to ten years. Champagnes will change as they age – most will become a deeper, golden colour and lose some of their effervescence.”

About the producer!

Dekeyne & Fils produce Champagnes from their five hectare estate in Bethon, a village in the southern end of the Côte de Sezanne. The Dekeyne family settled on their farm in Bethon in 1919, in an area known as “La Voglonière.” In 1962, The Dekeynes were the first in the village to replant vineyards after phyloxerra, a date that reminds us of how recent most vineyards are in this part of Champagne. The Dekeyne estate is now run by the brothers, Gael and Baptiste, who have taken up the work of their parents. They are creating a farm with a self-sufficient ecosystem and have received certification for both organic (AB) and bio-dynamic (Demeter) production. They produce their own tisanes, mostly from plants grown on their property and use fertilizer made only from plant material. They have decided to produce champagnes from a single vintage and from a specific plot/s.

Source: https://champagnedekeyneetfils.com/; https://winetraditions.com/portfolio/wines/champagne/champagne-dekeyne-et-fils/