Reims, May 2021
With the superb black bottle that holds its new Blanc de Blancs, Tsarine innovates to surprise and persuade champagne lovers!
The bottle was chosen for the beauty of its color, which brings out the famous Tsarine fluting, and because the dark glass preserves all the organoleptic qualities of this delicate and elegant champagne.
White wine in a black bottle
In developing Tsarine Blanc de Blancs, Isabelle Tellier, Chef de Cave, chose the finest Chardonnays from the celebrated Côte des Blancs south of Epernay, where the grand cru villages of Avize, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil sur Oger are located.
“— The Côte des Blancs is the kingdom of Chardonnay, the white-grape variety that predominates there. It thrives in the area’s soil, which is chalky and not too humid. That’s what gives it the freshness and minerality so characteristic of Champagne Chardonnays.
F
or this new Tsarine cuvée, I was won over by the contrast between the container and the contents — a black bottle and white wine. The bottle is not only beautiful, but very appropriate for this wine, which is exclusively made up of Chardonnay. The white varieties are more fragile, because they don’t contain the red tannins other Champagne grapes do. The very dark glass protects the wine from light, which improves its keeping qualities throughout the life of the champagne.”
Chardonnay, 2018 harvest
Tsarine Blanc de Blancs is made from wines from the very fine 2018 harvest. Following a moist, fairly cold winter, Champagne experienced a level of sunlight and temperatures well above the ten-year average from April until harvest time. Under such exceptional climate conditions, the vines developed rapidly. The flowers appeared 10 days early. The harvest was early and quality and quantity were high.
“With so much sun, the Chardonnays of the 2018 harvest showed excellent maturity and low acidity. For Tsarine I developed a Blanc de Blancs with a low sugar dosage of 5 gr/l, like an extra-brut, in order to let the grapes fully express the qualities of the terroir in the wine.”
Finesse and freshness shine forth
The wine has a pale-gold color with slight emerald nuances set off by the steady sparkle of its fine, delicate effervescence.
The very precise nose begins with fresh, floral fragrances of linden and hawthorn accompanied by notes of candied lemon, and then gives way to subtle roasted notes.
The wine is lively and silky on the palate with aromas of pineapple and candied citrus, ending in the mineral notes that are typical of the Chardonnays of the Côte des Blancs. The slightly spicy, saline finish prolongs the pleasure.
The ideal serving temperature for Tsarine Blanc de Blancs is between 10° and 12°C.
Isabelle Tellier’s menu to accompany Tsarine Blanc de Blancs
The creator of the new Tsarine cuvée, Chef de Cave Isabelle Tellier, is a certifiable “foodie” who is passionate about wine-and-food pairings. She’s created a custom-made menu: “Tsarine Blanc de Blancs has a floral dominant, and this seafood menu is intended to enhance the citrus aromas and flavors in the nose and on the palate.”
Roasted lobster with vanilla butter
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Monkfish tajine with candied lemon
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Pineapple and lime meringue tart
Pineapple and coconut tiramisù
Isabelle Tellier gave us further advice on the culinary ambiance of Tsarine Blanc de Blancs: “It’s a champagne that should be paired with fairly light things. As an appetizer, finger food with crab and lemon cream would be perfect. For the starter or main course, scallops are a sure-fire choice.”
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Find Tsarine Blanc de Blancs on the House of Chanoine online store and at selected wine dealers beginning in early June.
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