Champagne Brut 'A 17' Jean Hu

"A-17" is the latest creation from Champagne Jean Hu, an acronym that synthesizes the emblematic name of Arcanotheque and the vintage of reference. It is a cuvée that expresses a certain degree of mystery starting from the peculiar bottle, matte black and archaic in shape, reminiscent of ancient 18th-century bottles. The choice of the 2017 vintage is a courageous decision: a very complicated year, marked by severe spring frosts and torrid summer heat, ending with one of the earliest harvests ever, as early as the end of August. But opening the bottle you will realize that the hard work in the vineyard has rewarded.

Jean Hu makes "A-17" by vinifying Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes that come from plots located in the Vallée de la Marne territory, between the villages of Epernay and Dormans. The blend consists of 80 percent Pinot Noir and 20 percent Meunier, carefully selected in the vineyard: the soils are clay-limestone matrix with south-facing exposures, which guarantee an optimal level of ripeness. Agronomic management follows the principles of integrated pest management and the harvest is carried out manually, according to specifications. The clusters are pressed in the traditional vertical press with a capacity of 4,000 kilos: it is only the first-pressing flower must, the so-called cuvée in champenois jargon, that is used for the first alcoholic fermentation, performed in steel tanks. During the spring following the harvest, bottling and tirage are carried out: the stay on the lees is prolonged for 36 months and the final dosage after degorgement is within 5 grams of sugar per liter.

Jean Hu's Champagne Brut "A-17" presents itself to the eye in a luminous straw-yellow color with intense golden reflections, crossed by an endless and extremely fine perlage. The bouquet has an immediate rich and aromatic impact, on the notes it's characterized by peculiar floral fragrances from rose petal and elegant balsamic hints reminiscent of eucalyptus. The Meunier hints at a nuance of autumnal underbrush, while the Pinot Noir reveals all its complexity and structure on the palate. The sip is creamy with a vertical freshness, lingering on decidedly mineral references. A Blanc de Noirs for great occasions.