Comme Autrefois - 2005
Françoise Bedel
- Region
- France » Champagne AOC » Vallée de la Marne
- Type
- white traditional sparkling, extra brut
- Producer
- Françoise Bedel
- Vintage
- 2005
- Disgorged
- 2021-01
- On lees
- 168 months
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
- Alcohol
- 12.5
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- not available
40% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier.
Ratings
A masterful display of complexity and depth, this wine presents a tapestry of honey, honeycomb, baked apples, and a Jerez accent, intertwined with earthy mushrooms and a flourish of bakery notes. It's a multidimensional experience - intense yet delicate, aged yet vibrant, a testament to the winemaker's art. Beautifully matured yet brimming with youthful vigor.
And the Bedel style seduced me again. I guessed the bottle. Complex and rich bouquet of lemon tart, bruised apples, cider, Jerez, mushrooms, white flowers and some bakery. Multilayered and delicate palate despite being profound and persistent. Bravo. My favourite of the night.
Françoise Bedel
Françoise Bedel stands out not only for her remarkable journey into winemaking but also for her unique approach to viticulture and winemaking. Hailing from the village of Crouttes-sur-Marne, located on the western edge of Champagne, Bedel's estate is a testament to her dedication and passion for winemaking. Her journey into biodynamic winemaking, inspired by her personal experiences and a deep reverence for nature, has set her apart in a region celebrated for its long-standing conventional vinegrowing and winemaking traditions.
The 8-hectare estate, cultivated with vines aged between 30 and 60 years, reflects Bedel's commitment to biodynamic practices since 1998. This approach, centred around the interplay between soil, subsoil, and the vine's root system, allows for the fullest expression of the terroir in her grapes. The unique bio-dynamic compost used in the vineyards, containing preparations made from yarrow, chamomile, nettle, oak bark, dandelion, and valerian, is a testament to her dedication to fostering a harmonious relationship between the vineyard and its natural environment.
Located in the Marne Valley, known for its quality Pinot Meunier grapes, Bedel's estate predominantly focuses on this variety, along with smaller plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Her Champagnes, often aged for more than six years on the lees, are renowned for their depth and complexity. This extended lees ageing, combined with low or zero dosage, results in Champagnes with significant weight, heft, and lingering acidity.