Aurelien Suenen Oiry Grand Cru MAGNUM

ORGANIC /  LOW SULPHITE / NATURAL / VEGAN

A truly extraordinary Champagne, with only 400 bottles produced. Chardonnay grapes are grown in the Grand Cru village of Oiry on 45 year old vines and are allowed to spontaneously ferment using the natural yeasts. 35% of these grapes are then aged in barrels, before the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, spending two further years 'sur lattes' in order to fine-tune the balance. Finally, the wine is disgorged with a low dosage of 3g/l. All this combines to produce a wine that has wonderful aromas of stewed citrus and stone fruits, along with secondary notes of hazelnut and toasted brioche. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, lending a buttery richness on the palate that perfectly complements the noticeable chalky minerality from the limestone-rich terroir. A deep, rich, structured Champagne: perfect for Christmas and New Year festivities in a magnum format. 

Aurélien Suenen is based in the Côte des Blancs and farms a 3 hectare clutch of parcels scattered across the grand cru villages of Chouilly, Oiry and Cramant. He works his vines tirelessly, assisted by one employee who’s been with the family for over 20 years. Willing to learn as much as possible about his different vineyards, he hired the services of Claude and Lydia Bourguignon (microbiologists and soil experts) to study and understand the specificities of his soils, so that he could work them accordingly, increase organic matter and help the rhizomes grow deep. The wines are textural and intensely mineral, they feel unforced with a real sense of purity and class. Their progress has been exponential and there is more to come, this is a very exciting time for Aurélien Suenen.

Origin: Champagne, France
Vintage: NV (2018 base)
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Food pairing: Aperitif, Turkey, Fish, Sushi/Sashimi, Hard Cheeses such as Comte, Pecorino, Parmigiano
Bottle size: 150cl
ABV: 13.5%