In the heart of Reims there is a maison that, with great enterprise, brings freshness and modernity to the world of Champagne while preserving the strong legacy of its history. This is Castelnau, an exceptional house that arrived on the French sparkling wine scene some time ago and that, in recent years, has been winning remarkable acclaim not only among expert palates but also among regular consumers, who are harder to convince.
With Castelnau Champagnes comes a new approach to enjoying top-tier sparkling wines. It is bold, innovative and ambitious and, at the same time, authentic and traditional.
We will start from the very beginning to introduce the maison and understand its evolution and the value of what it has achieved.
Castelnau, a story of strong bonds
Castelnau’s production philosophy rests on special foundations, built on collaboration, shared expertise and the common passion of many growers united in the Regional Cooperative of Champagne Wines. In 2003 they bought the Castelnau Champagne, the same one that in the 1930s had won the favour of royal families and French army circles.
Castelnau Champagne was in fact born over a century ago, the work of a family from Epernay, and became famous all over the world during the First World War.
Today it is the result of a unique partnership that gives rise to a selection of exceptional Champagnes. There are around 900 hectares of vineyards and 149 crus, and the grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier; every element is entrusted to a magical alchemy of love for the land and creativity, a dialogue between tradition and the future. After all, it is hard not to create something exceptional in Reims, the Champagne region par excellence, home to the best-known maisons in the world: Castelnau has earned its place on the list of the most exclusive Champagne producers!
Castelnau Champagnes
Extraordinary terroirs, grapes of rare quality, innovative winemaking with long ageing on the lees: this and much more lies at the origin of Castelnau Champagne. A brilliant, dynamic personality that is well reflected in the bottle design, chic in its simplicity and an ambassador of an identity that is winning ever more trust among those devoted to the king of sparkling wines.
Brut
Freshness is the quality that best expresses the character of Castelnau Brut, thanks to its three grape varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, united in a harmony of pleasures that leaves no doubt: it is a must-try! Elegant and harmonious, on the nose it offers fruity aromas that open up in all their fragrance and return on the palate with a fresh taste that turns towards aromatic hints on the finish. Castelnau Brut ages in the cellar for at least three years.
Extra Brut
A deep yet delicate Cuvée, a vintage soul in an Extra Brut body. It is the perfect synthesis of the liveliness of Chardonnay and the roundness of Pinot Meunier, with a minimal amount of Pinot Noir. Castelnau Extra Brut amazes with its toasty and dried-fruit notes, which, together with flavours of candied lemon, awaken the senses and leave an airy sensation on the finish. It is a sparkling wine of essential finesse, just right, with a noble profile owed to its 6 or more years of ageing.
Réserve
Freshness, aromatic breadth and length for an emblematic Cuvée that perfectly represents the style of the maison: Castelnau Réserve Champagne is a noble expression of the marriage of Chardonnay and Pinot, with a valuable contribution from reserve wines and at least five years of ageing in the cellar. It offers delicate toasty notes in harmony with ripe yellow fruit that make the tasting delicious and pleasant; it closes with a sensation of intense fullness.
Rosé
A rosé to gaze at, spellbound, and to savour with delight: Castelnau Brut Rosé comes from old Pinot Noir and Meunier vines vinified as red wine, which give this Cuvée balance and great finesse. It shows a delicate salmon-pink colour to the eye and flavours of red and black fruit on the nose; in the mouth it surprises with great cleanness and delicious notes of grapefruit. Castelnau Brut Rosé is the Cuvée of instant pleasure.
Brut Millésime
A splendid vintage for Champagne: 2006 is the harvest of this crystalline Cuvée, with many layers of flavour and a silky character. In Castelnau Brut Millésime, the splendour and breadth of Chardonnay blend perfectly into the enveloping universe of Pinot Noir. It waits 12 years in the cellar, time that passes inexorably in anticipation of what is to come. It is an intense Champagne that fully reveals the incredible nuances of its toasty notes, joined by minty notes and a touch of citrus that contribute freshness and lightness. It has a gourmet finish and the touch of unmistakable Castelnau style.
Blanc de Blancs
It comes straight from the Crus of the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs, where generous nature sublimates Chardonnay in an exceptional vintage, 2006. Blanc de Blancs is a mature, superlative Cuvée. Here too, time plays its part: 12 years of ageing in the cellar seal a perfect pairing of delicacy and generosity. The depth is remarkable both on the nose and in the mouth, where it expresses itself through a beautiful world of flowers and fruit, with citrus nuances and a pleasant vibrancy on the finish. Toasty aromas of praline and coffee convey creamy notes.
Hors Categorie
Ageing that breaks every rule and a selection of remarkable vintages chosen from the best Crus for just 3,500 bottles: Hors Categorie is Castelnau’s revelation, the one truly incomparable Cuvée among the great Champagnes. The limited edition Hors Categorie comes from the finest aged wines, in an exclusive blend that fulfils the maison’s very personal desire for harmony and originality. Spicy and vanilla hints stand out on the nose; balanced on the palate, it reveals extraordinary aromatic breadth with aromas of citrus and chocolate. Hors Categorie is an explosion of unique, unrepeatable sensations
Brut Réserve Sprint
A limited edition for the Tour de France: Brut Réserve Sprint has the allure of the most exclusive sparkling wine and a dynamic, lively soul. It spends at least 5 years on the lees. On the first sip, the toasty notes of Chardonnay, the freshness and the easy drinkability are immediately evident. The perlage is fine and elegant, and the refined bouquet suggests notes of almonds and toasted hazelnuts, with hints of ripe peach and apricot. Every sip of this Brut invites you to keep tasting, to dive into a new way of savouring emotions.
Collection Oenothèque
An important profile, inherited from the dominance of Chardonnay, good balance and aromatic complexity for the Collection Oenothèque: 3 bottles from different vintages in magnum format.
The ally of this special collection’s majesty is time; this time the wait is a full 20 years. Indeed, Elisabeth Sarcelet, Chef de Caves at Castelnau, describes these labels like this: “Il faut savoir laisser passer le temps, le perdre, le prendre et le donner”, that is, “You must know how to let time pass, to waste it, to take it and to give it”.
Generous on the palate, the three wines of the Collection Oenothéque reveal the most refined and at the same time most traditional side of Reims.
To the complete range of Castelnau Champagnes we have added tasting sets, three different options for an even richer experience with this maison: a 3-bottle tasting, a 5-bottle tasting and a Blanc de Blancs mini-vertical.
Castelnau is the taste that satisfies the most demanding
When it comes to perceived quality, Champagne remains a fixed point in consumers’ minds: although other categories are also receiving encouraging feedback, Champagne keeps first place in this respect. But is perception reality?
With Castelnau, the thin line between the two disappears; the excellence is real, tangible or, better still, tasteable.
Led by Chef de Caves Elisabeth Sarcelet, Castelnau’s team of oenologists has developed a series of changes to the production method which, together with collaborative work in the vineyard, aim to give the Cuvées deeper flavours and make every Castelnau Champagne recognisable and incomparable in style. It is this personality that has already built an interesting reputation around the world and that today perfectly meets the demands of the most discerning palates on the one hand and, on the other, of the most adventurous, ready to discover a new way of enjoying certain taste experiences.
And are you ready to try a Castelnau Champagne?
