Flavien Now ack’s 2021 Bauchets cuvée is a Blanc de Noirs from an isolated plot on the Coteaux de Vandières. It is a champagne with notes of crisp cherry, white pepper, and toasted brioche, displaying great aromatic precision. On the palate, the texture is silky and vinous, with a lingering chalky finish. A rare cuvée, crafted on a small scale on a limestone hillside with limited production.
The Production of Bauchets 2021 Nowack Champagne
The Terroir
The grapes come from the village of Vandières, on the right bank of the Marne Valley. The Les Bauchets plot lies midway up the hillside, at an altitude of about 100 meters, on a gentle south-facing slope. The soil consists of a layer of sandy limestone resting on marl.
At a depth of fifty centimeters, a compact marl slab appears, concealed beneath a layer of white clayey sand typical of the area. This geological profile ensures effective drainage in the spring, while the clay deeper down acts as a water reservoir for the summer months.
The Pinot Noir vines , planted in 1965 using mass selection, draw water from deep underground, anchoring their root systems in the bedrock. The hillside’s southeast exposure promotes slow and steady ripening of the berries, minimizing variations in ripeness from one cluster to another.
Winemaking
The pneumatic press extracts the juice at low pressure. Fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts from the vineyard (yeasts naturally present on the grape skins, without the addition of selected strains). Flavien Nowack opts for full vinification in small oak barrels, which imparts roundness and depth to the wine. Malolactic fermentation is deliberately halted to preserve the vintage’s acidity.
The winemaking process takes place without filtration or fining, preserving the textural richness of the fine lees in suspension. Regular bâtonnage (resuspending the lees to enrich the wine) complements this aging process. Bottling with a wire-capped cork, carried out on August 3, 2022, replaces the usual crown cap. This method promotes a slower secondary fermentation (the conversion of sugar into carbon dioxide in the bottle) and a finer bubble texture.
Prolonged autolysis in the bottle generates tertiary complexity over the course of several months. After manual disgorgement (removal of the yeast sediment accumulated at the top of the bottle), the dosage is set at 1.5 g/L with a neutral liqueur. This Extra-Brut level approaches zero dosage, supporting the vintage’s natural acidity without dampening it.
The 2021 Vintage
In Vandières, 2021 proved to be a challenging vintage for winemakers. A spring frost in April reduced yields on the early-developing buds. Summer rainfall then encouraged the development of downy mildew, requiring constant vigilance in the vineyard.
The teams carried out rigorous manual sorting during the September harvest. The surviving clusters benefited from a dry, sunny late summer, driven by northerly winds that concentrated the must within the berries. The Pinot Noir exhibits high acidity despite its late ripening—a hallmark of great vintages with tension.
These conditions give the wine a reductive and lively profile in the bottle. The vintage’s acidic backbone provides structure, making it suitable for long-term aging.
Tasting Notes for the 2021 Bauchets Nowack
Color
The color is a light gold with coppery highlights. This luminous purity stems from the direct and delicate pressing of the black grapes.
Nose
The nose reveals aromas of cherry and sweet almond. A hint of dark tobacco and mild spices emerges upon first inhalation. After a few minutes of aeration, notes of toasted brioche become apparent.
Palate
The attack is clean and direct. The silky texture evolves into a full-bodied, vinous character on the mid-palate. The long, chalky finish highlights the geological origin of Vandières’ sandy-marl soil.
Pairing Suggestions
- Comté cheese gougères
- Aged Pata Negra
- Pâté en croûte
- Bresse Poultry
- Risotto with porcini mushrooms
- Veal with morels
- Aged Chaource
- Fig Tart
- Alpine Beaufort
The Expert’s Opinion: More Bubbles
This vintage reflects the unique characteristics of the clay-limestone terroirs of the Marne Valley. Aging in oak highlights the character of this mature vineyard. This wine benefits from being allowed to breathe in a glass before tasting. Acidity marks the initial attack on the palate—a defining trait of the 2021 vintage.
Champagne enthusiasts can also explore a blanc de blancs. The Chardonnay grape offers a mineral tension comparable to that of this terroir-driven Pinot Noir.
Storage and Serving Recommendations
How should this champagne be stored?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle (75cl) in reinforced shipping boxes specially designed for transporting champagne. Upon receipt, we recommend storing the bottle horizontally, away from light. Ideally in a cellar, or at least in a cool, not-too-dry place with a relatively stable temperature.
Aging Potential
The structure of the old vines and the acidity of the vintage give this cuvée a framework well-suited for aging.
- Drink now: The wine expresses notes of red fruit and citrus.
- By 2029: Prolonged aging develops hazelnut aromas.
- From 2033 onward: As the wine evolves, the profile shifts toward notes of forest floor.
Serving Recommendations
The optimal serving temperature is 11 degrees upon pouring. A wide-based tulip glass promotes aeration. Decanting for 30 minutes softens the wine’s structure.
Fun fact about this vintage
The estate has redesigned its bottle packaging for the new campaign. The label now uses cotton paper made from natural fibers, thick enough to withstand time in an ice bucket. The tin cap and collar have also been redesigned.
