Champagne Palmer has answered the call of Japanese sommeliers seeking a Brut Nature Champagne to pair with delicate cuisine. However, creating a no-sugar-added Champagne that appeals to a market with a sweeter palate posed a challenge for Remi Vervier, the managing director and enologist at Champagne Palmer.
Vervier believes that Brut Nature wines can be somewhat harsh due to the high acidity of Champagne grapes. To balance this acidity and achieve a softer, more pleasant mouthfeel, most sparkling wines have a small amount of sweetness added during the winemaking process.
Despite the challenges, Vervier was determined to create a Brut Nature that could be enjoyed by a wider audience. “Palmer is very easygoing. We want to introduce it with that feeling. We have worked for achieving a Brut Nature that you can enjoy,” he explained to Wine-Searcher.
The resulting “La Réserve Nature” is a testament to Vervier’s success. The wine exhibits the fresh green apple fruit characteristic of a no-dosage wine, but with soft bubbles on the tongue and a rounded finish featuring Sherry notes.
To achieve this supple texture, the wine was aged for an extended period on the lees, with the 2024 release based on grapes from 2016. Vervier also leveraged the unique terroir of Palmer’s vineyards in the Montagne de Reims subregion, which is primarily known for Pinot Noir but also produces premier-cru-vineyard Chardonnay.
A key component of the Brut Nature’s dosage is a solera of still Chardonnay, which is replenished each year with new wine as some is removed. This solera Chardonnay, with its full malolactic fermentation, provides the necessary freshness and complexity to the final blend.
With the release of “La Réserve Nature,” Champagne Palmer has successfully crafted a Brut Nature that caters to the Japanese market’s preference for a slightly softer style while maintaining the integrity of the no-dosage approach. This innovative Champagne is poised to become a favorite among sommeliers seeking the perfect pairing for delicate Japanese cuisine.
