Domaine Nowack Parcelle Bauchets 2020
- Region
- France » Champagne » Champagne AOC » Côte des Bar
- Type
- white traditional sparkling, brut nature
- Producer
- Vintage
- 2020
- Disgorged
- 2025-01
- On lees
- 40 months
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir
- Alcohol
- 12
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- not available
Ratings
Great wine, though still too young. Good intensity, very maritime - loads of shellfish alongside baked apples, cider, honey, and sunflower oil. The perlage isn't persistent, as usual with Nowack, but that's not the point - this is wine first, bubbles second. The youth shows in the structure, which isn't quite there yet. For now, it's still damn good, just not fully formed.
About Producer
Domaine Nowack, located in Vandières in the Vallée de la Marne, has rapidly gained recognition as a leader of innovation and quality in the Champagne region, thanks to the visionary work of Flavien Nowack. Since joining his family's domaine in 2011, Flavien has embraced a modern approach, becoming part of a movement that emphasises the production of single-vineyard, single-variety, and single-vintage Champagnes. This approach underscores his commitment to expressing the unique terroir of Vandières with clarity and precision, which are rare in the region.
Flavien's dedication to organic farming and his insistence on harvesting grapes only at full maturity reflects his respect for nature and his desire to create wines that fully express their origin. Starting with three hectares of vineyards handed down by his father, Flavien set out to craft three distinct Champagnes, each from a different single parcel of Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Remarkably, all these parcels are situated at the same elevation within Vandières, yet they reveal striking differences in the wines, highlighting the nuances of each varietal when grown in the same terroir.
Flavien's non-interventionist philosophy extends from the vineyard to the cellar. By avoiding chaptalization (the addition of sugar to the must) and malolactic fermentation, he preserves the pure, delicate flavours of his grapes. He also relies on natural yeast from unfermented grape must for the secondary fermentation in the bottle, a technique that enhances the vinous character of his Champagnes. Additionally, Flavien bottles his wines under lower pressure than is typical for Champagne, contributing to their distinctive, vinous texture and style.
