Frerejean Frères, Cuvée des Hussards, Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, 2012
Frerejean Frères, Cuvée des Hussards, Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, 2012
- Sparkling
- 75.0cl
- 12.5%
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Frerejean Frères founders, Guillaume, Richard and Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger, started out making Champagne for friends and family, but word spread, and they went into business in 2005.
They take a fresh approach to Champagne, that respects traditional methods, but leaves room for innovation. Their Champagne is now sold in hand-selected outlets the world over, but have stayed true to a small-scale approach.
Named in homage to Napoleon’s light cavalry - who were the first to use sabrage, the opening of a bottle of champagne with a sabre in celebration - Cuvée des Hussards is powerful and expressive. They craft it from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, from vieilles vignes of more than 40 years old, specifically chosen for the chalky soil that gives an elegant minerality.
- ❖ ABV: 12.5%
Grapes
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Vintage report
The 2012 vintage in Champagne reminds us why patience pays off in this corner of France. After a challenging growing season marked by wet conditions and disease pressure, producers who managed their vineyards carefully pulled off something rather special. The harvest came late, which allowed those who waited to gather fruit with surprising concentration and balance. What looked like a difficult year on paper became one of those vintages that catches you off guard.
We find 2012 Champagnes drinking superbly now, showing a mineral backbone that keeps everything honest while delivering fruit that's both ripe and refreshing. The Chardonnay particularly shines, bringing crystalline precision that makes your mouth water, whilst the Pinot Noir adds just enough weight without any heaviness. These aren't the most powerful Champagnes you'll encounter, but they're beautifully drinkable and will continue drinking well until 2030 for the best examples. Sometimes the tricky vintages teach us the most about what great winemaking can achieve.
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