2018 Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres Extra Brut

The 2018 Les Couarres represents one of the most gourmand interpretations of this cuvée to date—a reflection of the sun-drenched growing season that defines its radiant personality. Disgorged in 2022 with a dosage of 2.5 grams per liter, it opens with a lush and aromatic profile of dried stone fruits, ripe pear and exotic spice. Full-bodied, broad and muscular, it delivers a generous, fruit-driven attack that transitions into a textured, chalk-laced mid-palate. Despite the power and ripeness of the vintage, the wine remains controlled, supported by a vibrant spine of acidity and with a touch of bitter phenolics that assert themselves on the long, resonant finish. A compelling wine to savor on its own, the 2018 character becomes even more instructive when tasted alongside the 2020, where the contrast highlights just how much the solar vintage shaped its expressive character.