Should House Style Or Terroir Be The Focus Of Vintage Champagne?

When it comes to making wine or champagne, every winemaker has a different belief about what makes for the perfect bottle of wine. This is true in every country and region, and it is certainly true in Champagne. When it comes to making champagne, makers know that the drink should be the embodiment of finesse and elegance. The question that many winemakers disagree on, however, is whether these champagnes should be driven by the terroir or if they should be expressive of the house style. Both schools of thought make valid arguments, and ultimately the answer may lie with the consumer or in the preferences of the house.

For those who believe that house style should be the primary objective when creating champagne, there is a firm belief that it is that instant recognition of the maker of a wine that is the most important. A house style should be apparent to the consumer from the first aroma and from the very first sip of wine, and it should be consistent not only from one vintage to the next, but from one wine to the next. If a house focuses on weight and texture in every wine, the same should hold true for their vintage champagne as well.

For those who believe that a quality champagne should be terroir based, the belief is based on the fact that these wines are representative of the year that they were produced. Every year produces a different blend of aromas, flavors, and acid levels, and this is what many believe makes a vintage unique. With a single vintage champagne, the idea is to create a drink that accurately represents the idiosyncrasies of the growing year and that capture the flavor of the vintage rather than the style of the makers who produce it.

There is certainly great debate in this, and the simple fact is that there is never going to be a unanimous conclusion. Vintage champagne is much more likely to have inconsistencies in flavor due to the fact that it is not mixed from multiple vintages, but whether this inconsistency should be masked by the expressions of the house style or embraced as a sign of the terroir of the vintage year is ultimately up to the discretion of the maker. There are wine connoisseurs on both sides of the fence, so ultimately, there is still a market for both types of vintage champagne.

By: James N. Nicholson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

James Nicholson Wines prides themselves on finding the best wines from around the world, allowing you to buy fine wine online. James Nicholson Wines is an independent wine merchant in the UK.