Jacquesson has unveiled the 2002 vintage of its three white, single vineyard, mono-cépage champagnes. At a launch tasting at Pollen Street Social, Jean-Hervé Chiquet announced future plans to re-release the 700 series non-vintage wines, late disgorged with an extra four years’ ageing, starting with Cuvée 733 based on the 2005 harvest towards the end of 2012. Some 15,000 bottles and 1,000 magnums have been held back for this purpose.

The trio of lieux-dits champagnes: Avize, Champ Caïn, a 1.3 hectare plot planted with Chardonnay in 1962; Dizy Corne Bautray, 1 ha of Chardonnay planted in 1960; and the smallest – Aÿ, Vauzelle Terme – just 0.3ha of Pinot Noir planted in 1980; join the saignée rosé Dizy Terres Rouges (1.35ha of Pinot Noir planted in 1993) the 2002, 2003 and 2004 vintages of which are already sold out, while the 2007 is yet to be released. The wines are only made in small quantities: close to 10,000 bottles of the Avize, 5,000-6,000 of Dizy Corne Bautray, and only 2,500 of Aÿ Pinot Noir, with some held back for re-release.

The three 2002 single vineyard wines - while certainly not fully mature - have opened up considerably over the last four years. The Chardonnay from Dizy is now very expressive, showing ripe stone fruit with terrific texture, weight and concentration. Avize Chardonnay is perhaps more classic and fine textured, with great grip and mouthfeel. The Aÿ Pinot Noir is rounder, with generous fruit and a silky texture set against a marked chalky minerality.

Tasting the last three non-vintage blends side by side – Cuvée 733, 734 (based on the 2006 harvest), and the newly-released Cuvée 735 made from a 2007 base – makes sense of the second release plans. ‘They are closer to vintage champagne in style than most non-vintage cuvées, partly because of the Jacquesson philosophy since the 2000 harvest of trying to make the best possible blend each year, rather than look for conformity of style,’ says Chiquet.

News item from Imbibe.com, 11-10-2011