Philippe Lancelot Champagne Grand Cru Chouilly Le Fond du Bateau Extra Brut 2018

Philippe Lancelot Champagne Grand Cru Chouilly Le Fond du Bateau Extra Brut 2018 is a precise, single-vineyard expression of Chardonnay from one of the Côte des Blancs’ most revered crus. Crafted from old vines in the Grand Cru village of Chouilly, this Extra Brut cuvée offers a chiselled, terroir-driven style that will appeal to lovers of pure, mineral Champagne. The 2018 vintage brings a touch of generosity to the wine’s otherwise focused, saline backbone, creating a compelling balance between intensity and finesse.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Champagne shows a bright, pale gold colour with fine, persistent bubbles that form an elegant mousse. The nose is refined and chalk-driven, opening with notes of lemon zest, white flowers and green apple, followed by hints of brioche, fresh almond, and a subtle smoky, flinty edge characteristic of Chouilly Grand Cru Chardonnay. On the palate, Le Fond du Bateau is taut yet layered, with a vibrant citrus core—think yuzu, grapefruit and lemon curd—wrapped in orchard fruit, crisp pear and a touch of stone fruit from the ripe 2018 vintage. A pronounced chalky minerality runs through the mid-palate, giving both texture and tension, while delicate pastry, hazelnut and light spice notes suggest time on lees and gentle oak influence. The finish is long, saline, and mouthwatering, with a very dry Extra Brut profile that remains perfectly balanced by the wine’s natural fruit richness. Enjoy now for its vivid energy, or cellar for 5–8 more years to gain additional complexity and creamy, nutty nuances.

Production
Le Fond du Bateau comes from a single Grand Cru parcel in Chouilly, on the Côte des Blancs, where pure chalk and limestone soils give Chardonnay its hallmark precision and mineral drive. Philippe Lancelot is known for meticulous work in the vineyard, typically favouring low yields, careful canopy management and hand-harvesting to ensure only perfectly ripe, healthy grapes make it to the press. In the cellar, the must is gently pressed and fermented with a focus on preserving purity and site expression, often using a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak to add texture without overshadowing the terroir. Extended aging on the lees builds depth and fine bubble structure, and the Extra Brut dosage allows the character of the 2018 vintage and the Grand Cru chalk to shine through with clarity.

Food & Serving
This Champagne is a superb match for refined seafood dishes such as oysters, scallop carpaccio, sashimi, or turbot with beurre blanc, where its bright acidity and saline edge highlight delicate flavours. It also pairs beautifully with lobster, crab, caviar, or fine cheeses like aged Comté and young, creamy goat’s cheese. Serve well chilled at around 8–10°C (46–50°F); if possible, pour it into white wine glasses rather than narrow flutes to allow the aromas to open. A brief 15–20 minutes in the fridge-open bottle or a gentle splash decant just before serving can help the wine reveal more of its layered, chalky complexity.

Producer
Philippe Lancelot is a grower-producer based in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, a subregion famed for its Chardonnay-driven Champagnes and Grand Cru villages such as Cramant and Chouilly. Working primarily with family-owned, high-quality parcels, Lancelot focuses on expressing the nuances of each terroir through careful vineyard stewardship and relatively low-intervention winemaking. The domaine has become increasingly recognised among Champagne enthusiasts for its precise, mineral, and characterful cuvées that showcase the chalk soils and cool climate of the region. With an emphasis on parcel-based wines and thoughtful extra-brut dosages, Philippe Lancelot has carved out a respected place in the world of grower Champagne, particularly for those seeking authenticity and terroir definition in every bottle.

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