Champagne Extra Brut Grand Cru 'Matiere' Encry

Extra Brut Grand Cru 'Matiere' is Encry's most recent label, an interpretation of the renowned terroir of Le Mesnil sur Oger, an area practically entirely devoted to Chardonnay. The winery, whose full name deposited with the Interprofessional Committee is Domaine Encry - Veuve Blanche Estelle, has a very recent history but has had to show great tenacity in overcoming a whole series of obstacles to come into the world. In fact, Enrico Baldin and Nadia Nicoli, both from Padua, are to date the only Italians in the world to produce Champagne, accompanied by the skilful guidance of vigneron Jean Michel Turgy.

Encry's Extra Brut Grand Cru "Matiere" is the expression of a pure Chardonnay from the village classified Grand Cru of Le Mesnil sur Oger, one of the pearls of the Côte de Blancs, about 10 kilometres south of Epernay. The vineyard extends over a very few hectares in an enviable position, enclosed between the properties of sacred monsters such as Krug and Salon, and is conducted following a biodynamic approach, with the exclusion of synthetic chemical agents. The soil is characterised by composite rocks, clay and, above all, a very important presence of chalk, which acts as a water reserve for the vines during periods of extreme drought. Harvesting is done by hand and the grapes are pressed in the traditional Coquard vertical press. Alcoholic fermentation develops spontaneously using only indigenous yeasts, in temperature-controlled steel tanks, for a duration of about 15 days: no filtration is carried out, only a static decantation while the malolactic fermentation is prevented. The wine of the single vintage is blended with about 20% reserve wines, and it rests on its lees for 42 months. The remuage is carried out by hand on pupitres and the degorgement is done à la volée. The final dosage is kept within 2 grams per litre.

Encry's Extra Brut Grand Cru "Matiere" is bright in the glass, dressed in a straw-yellow hue with golden reflections and displays a persistent, fine effervescence. The aromas are intense and show a certain complexity: the toasted notes you feel at first then let a lively citrus part emerge, recognisable in the floral notes of orange blossom. The mineral part is already perceptible on the nose and clearly marks the taste: the sip is decisive and dry, with a powerful freshness that floods the palate. A Champagne to drink with food, which lends itself to pairing with raw fish, but also very well with charcuterie boards and even aged cheeses.