Champagne Claude Cazals 'Cuvée Rosée', Extra Brut, Oger Grand Cru, France, NV

Founded in the late 19th century, Champagne Cazals is based in Mesnil-sur-Oger and today is led by winemaker Delphine Cazals. Over the decades, the family has quietly assembled an enviable collection of Grand Cru sites, from parcels once known as “Clos Chétillons” to ‘Puy de Gaumes’ near Vertus and the southern edge of ‘Les Carelles’ made famous by Selosse. At the heart of the estate lies the crown jewel—Clos Cazals—a walled vineyard within the family home in Oger, one of the most prized Chardonnay villages in all of Champagne. With sustainable, biodynamic-leaning practices and a meticulous approach in the cellar, Cazals has emerged as one of the region’s rising stars.

• WINEMAKER: Delphine Cazals

• FARMING: Sustainable, biodynamic practices

• VARIETY: 88% Chardonnay (Oger & Mesnil-sur-Oger, Grand Cru), 12% Pinot Noir (Verzenay, Grand Cru)

• TERROIR: Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs deliver pure chalk-driven minerality and tension to the Chardonnay, while Verzenay’s Pinot Noir adds depth, structure, and a delicate red-fruited nuance. All parcels are Grand Cru classified.

• VINIFICATION: Fermented in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks; full malolactic fermentation completed. Composed of the 2020 harvest with 20% reserve wines. Traditional method secondary fermentation, followed by extended lees aging.

• AGING: 3 years sur lie in vaulted cellars; dosage of 7 g/L.

• TASTING NOTES:

  • Eye: Copper-hued with brilliant clarity and a fine, persistent bead.

  • Nose: Bright and expressive, with citrus zest and blood orange layered over notes of wild strawberry and raspberry.

  • Palate: Brisk and mineral on entry, unfolding into ripe red fruit sweetness, and finishing with a gourmand, subtly creamy touch.

• FOOD PAIRINGS: Superb as an aperitif; pairs gracefully with fresh fruit or chocolate desserts, and equally at home with grilled meats or vegetables at a summer barbecue.