Flavien Nowack’s 2020 Tuilerie cuvée is a winemaker’s champagne sourced from a single vineyard in Vandières. It features notes of white peach, fresh citrus, and a hint of brioche from its aging in oak. On the palate, the profile is both crisp and silky, with a salty, lingering finish, making it ideal as an aperitif or with a meal. A rare cuvée, crafted in the purest spirit of a winemaker’s champagne.
The Making of the 2020 Tuilerie Nowack Champagne
The Terroir
The Tuilerie vineyard is located in Vandières, within the Coteaux de la Marne terroir. The Chardonnay vines were planted in 2005 at an elevation of 100 meters, facing due south to capture maximum sunlight throughout the growing season.
The soil profile is unique: a surface layer of clay rests on light-colored calcareous sand, which filters rainfall down to a marl layer located one meter deep. Beneath the surface, a geological bed of sandstone forms the bedrock. The root system penetrates all these strata to draw water from deep underground, which gives the cuvée its characteristic tension.
Winemaking
The Chardonnay grapes harvested in 2020 are pressed, and the must then ferments in tanks with indigenous yeasts (yeasts naturally present on the grape skins, without added yeast). Malolactic fermentation is not carried out, which preserves the wine’s natural acidity and freshness. The free-run wine is aged in small oak barrels.
Aging in oak involves regular topping up—a process that consists of refilling the barrel to prevent any contact with air. This meticulous approach preserves the Chardonnay’s aromatic purity and the precision of its fruit flavors.
The winemaker bottled the clear wine on September 15, 2022. The wine is bottled with a cork and metal staples—a method that results in a slower secondary fermentation and prolonged contact with the lees, promoting finer bubbles. The secondary fermentation (which creates natural carbon dioxide) uses grape must. Manual disgorgement then prepares the bottle for release.
The Extra-Brut dosage is set at 1 g/L, preserving the wine’s full vibrancy. The cuvée undergoes neither fining nor filtration before release.
The 2020 Vintage
In Vandières, 2020 saw above-average total sunshine. The Comité Champagne confirmed an early growing season, with budbreak as early as March and summer months marked by intense daytime heat.
The harvest began several weeks ahead of schedule. Rigorous manual sorting isolated the healthy clusters, andthe absence of any botrytis infection ensured a perfectly healthy must.
The juices from this harvest are characterized by a low concentration of malic acid. In the Chardonnay from Vandières, the 2020 vintage develops a full-bodied texture and pronounced roundness. The variety’s natural tension balances the richness acquired as a result of the heat.
Tasting Notes for the 2020 Tuilerie Nowack
Color
The color is a pale gold with golden highlights. Its clarity reflects the skin contact during pressing. A fine, steady effervescence livens the glass.
Nose
Upon aeration, the nose opens with notes of white peach, followed by citrus aromas that enrich the olfactory profile. A hint of brioche underscores the oak aging. The overall effect is a finely crafted bouquet.
Palate
The attack on the palate is clean and crisp. The wine then unfolds with a silky texture, characteristic of the vintage. The finish is persistent, prolonged by a chalky salinity that is the hallmark of the Vandières terroir.
Pairing Suggestions
- Gougères with aged Comté
- Lemon-infused sea bass ceviche
- Toasts with fresh goat cheese
- Scallops
- Asparagus Risotto
- Poached Chicken
- Aged Chaource
- Aged Parmesan
- Mirabelle Plum Tart
The Expert’s Opinion: More Bubbles
Looking for a champagne with a unique mouthfeel? This oak-aged interpretation is sure to catch your attention. Regular topping up during aging preserves the wine’s full aromatic purity. This cuvée stands out from the usual expressions of Chardonnay. Its distinctive aromatic profile makes this Extra-Brut ideal for Michelin-starred cuisine.
Storage and Serving Recommendations
How should you store this champagne?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle in reinforced shipping boxes specially designed for transporting champagne. Upon receipt, we recommend storing the bottle horizontally, away from light. Ideally in a cellar, but in any case in a cool, not overly dry place with a relatively stable temperature.
Aging Potential
The structure of this 2020 vintage supports the wine’s aging potential.
- Immediate enjoyment: The wine expresses its liveliness with citrus notes.
- Maturity phase (by 2028): The autolysis process develops brioche aromas.
- Tertiary development (from 2032 onward): The profile shifts toward notes of honey.
Serving Recommendations
Serve this bottle at a temperature of 10°C. This temperature preserves the Chardonnay’s aromatic profile on the palate. Opt for a tulip-shaped glass, whose wide base promotes natural aeration and releases the wine’s aromatic complexity.
Decanting is not recommended for this wine.
Fun fact about this cuvée
The Tuilerie plot is located within a geological cirque that surrounds the estate’s higher elevations. It lies alongside the Fontinette and Baucher plots—three lieux-dits that form the cornerstones of the Nowack estate.
Together with Baucher, the estate produces a Pinot Noir cuvée. Collectively, these three plots showcase the viticultural richness of this region of Champagne.
