Club Trésors 2007 Vin Clair Tasting

There were few surprises at the Club Trésors de Champagne tasting yesterday, held in the cellars of Champagne Vazart-Coquart in Chouilly. Most of the wines showed very well, and overall the tasting served to reinforce my impressions of the 2007 vintage rather than open any new windows. It’s a vintage that feels a little lighter in body than recent ones, although this feeling is also accentuated by the high acidity levels. The acidity of 2007 is lovely, with a crisp, snappy zestiness reminiscent of vintages such as 2004, 1998 and 1995, if not quite as forceful as 1996. (One taster, Laurent Panigai of the CIVC, compared the 2007 vins clairs to those of the 1988 vintage.) “Classic” is a word that is perhaps used a bit too often in the wine world, but the 2007 vintage does feel classic in its balance and fruit character. While there are some excellent examples of pinot noir, I continue to think that chardonnay is the standout of the vintage, and especially in the Côte des Blancs.

I’ve written a separate page of notes on the tasting. Unfortunately, they are much more useful for me than for you, as most of these wines will be blended with others before bottling. It might be boring. But if you’re interested in what the nuts and bolts of champagne look like, you can read my thoughts here.