Denis Chaput
Mésogée Tradition Brut NV
Region: France - Champagne
Denis Chaput
In the mid-twelfth century, a Templar base was established in Arrentières. In 1312, under pressure from the King of France (Philip IV, known as Philip the Fair), Pope Clement V dissolved the Order of the Knights Templar. As a result, an inventory of their property and possessions was drawn up. This states that the Templars owned vines in Arrentières which “produce 35 muids in a good year” (a muid is a large barrel). Since that time, wine has always been produced… subject of course to the various conflicts and turmoil that inevitably occur in the course of history.
The first winegrower to bear the name Chaput moved to Arrentières in 1862. By 1878, he had his own wine press. The first Chaput champagne, “Cuvée des Rochottes”, was produced in the early 1930s. It is a tradition that continues today. The vineyards consist of 26 individual plots located just next door to the winery. The hillsides face South-East to West, with the steepness of the slopes ranging from 5 to 20%. The soil varies in its proportion of pebbles, its depth, and its richness in clay with each plot showcasing its own individual character producing correspondingly different wines.
Today, the Chaput brothers Nicolas and Xavier, along with their father Denis and mother Jacquline, have preserved the Templar legacy by renovating the last vestiges of a Templar commandery established there between the 12th and 14th centuries. To experience their Champagnes in their tasting cellar and tower is truly to walk through history.
Grapes / Soils
| Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area ha or acres |
| Mésogée | 70 % Pinot Noir / 30 % Chardonnay | Average age : 35 years in 2022 | Kimmeridgian clay-chalk |
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
- Vines planted: on average in 1985
- Kimmeridgian clay-chalk soils
- Planting density: 7500 vines/hectare
- Pruning methods: Chablis and Cordon de Royat
- Grass cover in all rows to foster micro-organisms, control yield and limit erosion
- Soil worked mechanically with vine hoes
- Harvesting and debudding by hand
Harvest Notes
- Plot by plot vinification in small stainless steel, temperature controlled vats
- Use of natural concrete ovid vat
- Wines undergo malolactic fermentation
Winemaker's Notes
Mésogée means “in the middle of the lands,” and was the name of the prehistoric sea located in the Côte des Bar which gave the structure and minerals to the subsoil. This name was chosen because cuvée Tradition is the iconic vintage of the this terrior.
Bright, pale golden yellow colour with silvery yellow highlights, this cuvée presents fine, persistent bubbles. The nose develops aromas of lemon, honey, blackcurrant, pepper, smoked limestone, star anise, peony, apple, apricot, biscuit, and Morello cherry. On the palate, the attack is supple and fresh, with a soft, creamy effervescence. Luscious, crisp fruit is underscored by a grapefruity acidity, delicately combined with a marly minerality. The light, juicy finish ends on a smooth, saline note.
Pair with lightly cooked scallops with a tangerine reduction, or skate with grapefruit button sauce, roast turnips with caramelized soy sauce.
Wine Summary
70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay grapes; Kimmeridgian clay-chalk soils; average vine age 35 years in 2022; 55% from 2017 harvest, 20% from 2015, 5% from 2014; fermented in stainless steel and concrete ovid vats with full malolactic fermentation; 12% alcohol; dosage 8 g/L; bottled July 2018; certified TERRA VITUS.
Technical Information
- 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
- 75% wines from 2017 harvest, 20% from 2015 harvest, 5% from 2014 harvest
- Alcohol: 12%
- Dosage: 8 g/L
- Bottled: July 2018
- Certified TERRA VITUS
General Info
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Appellation(s) | Côte des Bar |
| Proprietors | Xavier and Nicolas Chaput |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Winemaker | Nicolas Chaput |
| Annual Production | 1800 9L cases |
| Farming (Sustainable, organic, biodynamic) | Sustainable – Terra Vitus certified |
