An absolute gentleman and so gracious, Jean-Pierre Vazart offered us such incredible hospitality when we visited him in June this year. The Vazart family own 11 hectares of vineyards, all of it in the Cȏte des Blancs grand cru of Chouilly.
Our visit at Champagne Vazart-Coquart started with a trip into Jean-Pierre’s vineyards in Chouilly, which is all about Chardonnay and this makes up around 95% of Vazart-Coquart’s holdings. The average age of their vines is over 30 years. In 2017 Jean-Pierre commenced full conversion to organic farming. Champagne Vazart-Coquart boasts one of the oldest soleras in Champagne as their reserve wines for their non-vintage blends are stored as a perpetual blend in a 20,000 litre tank, holding every vintage as far back as 1982. Every year 40% is used for some of their cuvées which is then replenished with the current harvest. Jean-Pierre’s 11 hectares yield more than what he requires and can produce in his small winery and cellars, so the balance he sells to Veuve Clicquot.
After we toured through Jean-Pierre’s pristine facility and cellars we headed back to the Maison for a tasting of some of his incredible wines. I was super thrilled to see his back labels packed with all the information you could possibly want to know about the wine you are drinking.
Champagne Vazart-Coquart Grand Bouquet 2016 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
100% Chouilly Chardonnay
3gr dosage p/litre
Disgorged April 2022
Champagne Vazart-Coquart Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
Dosage of 2,5gr per litre
Disgorged September 2021
This cuvée is Jean-Pierre’s Brut Reserve with a slightly lower dosage and an additional year on the lees.
Champagne Vazart-Coquart Brut Reserve Blanc de Blancs
4,5gr p/litre dosage
Disgorged June 2022
Brut Reserve Blanc de Blancs is Jean-Pierre’s flagship cuvée, aged for around 2.5 years on the lees it makes up 50% of his production.
The Vazart-Coquart Geese: On the front label of Vazart-Coquart’s bottles you will see 3 stylised geese, these 3 geese symbolise the 3 generations of the family that have run the house. When Jean-Pierre retires and hands over the baton, this will change to 4 geese on the label.
These geese were not just chosen at random as a symbol of the house. In the middle of the previous century, several flocks of geese waddled through the village in the morning and evening, sometimes causing minor traffic jams. The neighbouring villages were quick to choose the nickname of “bilots” for the people of Chouilly. It is a synonym for goose in the local Champagne dialect.
To book a visit at Champagne Vazart-Coquart, you need to complete the online contact form. They are open for visits from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 and from 13:30 to 16:30, and Saturdays by prior appointment only. Also check out their social media pages, Facebook and Instagram and also Twitter.
Thank you again Jean-Pierre for your time and gracious hospitality.
Pop, Fizz, Clink
Linn
The Champagne Chick
xo
THE CHAMPAGNE CHICK 