Julie Dufour Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Cleobuline Chapite II 2020

Julie Dufour Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Cleobuline Chapite II 2020 is a pure Chardonnay Champagne crafted without dosage, allowing the terroir and vintage to speak clearly. This is a grower-style Blanc de Blancs that leans into precision and tension rather than richness, making it ideal for those who enjoy Champagne in its most uncompromising, mineral-driven form. The “Chapite II” designation and single-year bottling underline its character as a carefully composed, limited-production cuvée.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Champagne shows a pale, luminous straw color with fine, persistent bubbles that build a delicate mousse. On the nose, it is clean and focused, with notes of lemon zest, green apple, crisp pear and white flowers, layered over hints of chalk, fresh almond and a touch of brioche from time on the lees rather than added sweetness. The palate is taut, dry and linear, as you’d expect from a Brut Nature, with high, mouthwatering acidity and a striking chalky minerality. Flavors of citrus (lemon, grapefruit), crunchy orchard fruits and a faint saline edge give the wine real energy, while subtle pastry and hazelnut nuances add depth. The finish is long, bone-dry and precise. Enjoyable now for its vibrancy and tension, this 2020 Blanc de Blancs has the structure to develop more complexity over the next 5–8 years, gaining creaminess and more pronounced nutty, toasty notes with additional bottle age.

Production
This Champagne is made from 100% Chardonnay grown in the chalk-rich soils of the Champagne region, a classic terroir for finely etched Blanc de Blancs. The cool climate and mineral subsoils help preserve acidity and impart a signature saline, chalky profile. Grapes are typically harvested by hand, parcel by parcel, to ensure optimal ripeness and careful selection. In the cellar, the base wines are fermented in stainless steel or a mix of steel and neutral vessels to retain purity, followed by extended aging on the lees in bottle to build texture and complexity. As a Brut Nature, no dosage (sugar) is added at disgorgement, so the final wine is an unadorned expression of Chardonnay, terroir and vintage.

Food & Serving
This cuvée is a natural match for oysters, shellfish platters, sashimi, ceviche, and simply prepared white fish, where its razor-sharp freshness and minerality shine. It also pairs beautifully with goat cheese, fresh cheeses, sushi, tempura, and light vegetable dishes, as well as delicate poultry or lean veal in citrus-based sauces. Serve well-chilled, ideally around 8–10°C (46–50°F), to emphasize its precision, but allow the glass to warm slightly to reveal more depth and nuance. Decanting is generally not necessary; instead, pour into fine, tulip-shaped white wine or Champagne glasses to best appreciate its aromas and texture.

Producer
Julie Dufour is part of the new wave of Champagne producers focusing on terroir expression, lower intervention and finely crafted, characterful grower-style wines. Working on a smaller scale than the grandes marques, she can give close attention to each parcel and each cuvée, resulting in Champagnes that feel personal and site-driven rather than standardized. While information on the estate remains relatively discreet, her wines fit into the broader movement in Champagne that champions single-variety, precise styles like this Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature, helping to spotlight the diversity and nuance of the region’s growers.

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