Etienne Calsac Champagne Les Revenants Extra Brut

Etienne Calsac Champagne Les Revenants Extra Brut is a fascinating, tiny‑production cuvée that shines a light on Champagne’s forgotten grapes. Crafted from Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbane, it offers a strikingly different expression from the region’s classic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blends. Bone‑dry and finely detailed, this non‑vintage Champagne is both a tribute to tradition and a bold, modern statement in grower fizz.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Les Revenants shows a pale straw colour with silvery highlights and an energetic, fine mousse. The nose is immediately distinctive: notes of crisp green apple, pear skin and white flowers meet hints of fresh herbs, lime zest, wet stones and a subtle almond cream character. On the palate, it is taut, vibrant and linear, with racy acidity elevated by the Extra Brut dosage. Flavours of citrus rind, green plum, crunchy orchard fruit and gooseberry weave together with saline, chalky minerality and a delicate bitter‑grapefruit twist on the finish. The texture is both chiselled and gently creamy from extended lees ageing, leading to a long, mouth‑watering, delicately spicy aftertaste. Enjoyable now for its energy and precision, it also has the structure to develop further complexity over the next 4–6 years, gaining more nutty, brioche and honeyed notes with time in bottle.

Production
Les Revenants comes from carefully selected parcels in the Champagne region, where cool climate and chalky, limestone‑rich soils bring tension, purity and a strong mineral signature to these rare varieties. Etienne Calsac works as a true grower‑producer, farming his own vines with great attention to detail, often leaning toward sustainable, low‑intervention practices to preserve biodiversity and fruit integrity. The grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, bunches sorted rigorously in the vineyard and at the press. Fermentation typically takes place in stainless steel and, for select parcels, in neutral oak, allowing the character of Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbane to shine without heavy oak imprint. The wine then rests on its lees for an extended period to build texture and complexity before disgorgement with a low Extra Brut dosage, resulting in a Champagne that is incisive, pure and terroir‑driven.

Food & Serving
This Champagne’s bright acidity and savoury, mineral backbone make it a superb partner at the table. Pair it with briny oysters, scallop crudo, or sea bream carpaccio, as well as sushi, sashimi, and lightly grilled prawns. It also works beautifully with fresh goat’s cheese, soft cheeses with bloomy rinds, vegetable tempura, and delicate poultry dishes such as roast chicken with tarragon or fine herb sauces. Serve well‑chilled at 8–10°C (46–50°F). A brief 10–15 minutes in a decanter, or simply in the glass as it warms slightly, can help the aromatic complexity of these unusual grapes fully unfold.

Producer
Etienne Calsac is one of the new generation of grower‑Champagne producers helping to redefine the region’s identity. Based in the Champagne region of France, he took over his family’s vineyards at a young age and gradually shifted the focus from selling grapes to crafting characterful, estate‑bottled wines. Working primarily with premier sites on chalk‑dominated soils, Calsac is known for his meticulous vineyard care, low yields, and a winemaking style that privileges precision, freshness and terroir expression. Les Revenants, made from the nearly forgotten varieties of Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbane, has become a cult cuvée among Champagne enthusiasts, showcasing both his curiosity and his respect for the region’s heritage. His champagnes are now sought after well beyond France, recognised for their purity, energy and distinct sense of place.