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| The
Cramant village is the first village (counting from the north) in the
Cote des Blancs. Cramant is a Grand Cru village dominated by Chardonnay |
Cramant
is famous for the "crémant de Cramant" - a supposedly slightly less
sparkling champagne (no longer so though). A view over the Butte de
Saran |
Simon
Selosse in Avize, the next village going south |
Simon
Selosse. Avize is also Grand Cru |
One of
the most highly respected producers of all, and bio-dynamic too:
Champagne Jacques Selosse, hidden on a back street in Avize |
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| Jacques
Selosse |
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In
harvest time the banks all have a guard outside (this one rather shy,
since he always turned the back to the camera) - the banks are full of
cash since all the growers need to withdraw cash to pay the pickers (who
often don't want anything but cash) |
Champagne Louis Roederer, vendangeoir in Avize |
Champagne A. Jacquart & Fils in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Le Mesnil is the
last Grand Cru village in the Cote des Blancs. A. Jacquart is a small grower making
very interesting, good-value champagnes |
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| A
close-up on a deleafing machine |
Allée du
Clos du Mesnil |
The Clos
du Mesnil is one of the most famous vineyards in Champagne, responsible
for one of the few "single vineyard" champagnes |
A big
part of the Clos du Mesnil undergoing replantation |
Champagne Pierre Peters - one of the best producers in Le Mesnil |
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| Salon -
another of the top growers in Le Mesnil |
Champagne A Salon & Cie, Le Mesnil |
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This is
the kind of soil in the Cote des Blancs, just behind Le Mesnil |
A view
over Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. You can see the Clos du Mesnil, completely
surrounded by the village! |
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A view
uphill, behind Le Mesnil, with the Forêt du Mesnil on top |
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A couple
of shots towards the plain, south |
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Three
photos from the top of the hill behind Le Mesnil, on approximately 210 m
altitude, showing the whole panorama from left to right |
Nr 2 |
Nr 3 |
A
cross
section of the soil |
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| Blocks
of chalk - almost blindingly white |
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South of
the Grand Cru territory, but still in the Cote des Blancs, towards the
town Vertus |
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In
Vertus: towards, Epernay, Le Mesnil, Mareuil, Condé, Villier aux Bois,
and the Route Touristique de Champagne |
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| Quite a
few champagne houses here too, albeit lesser known, but a poor selection
of restaurants... |
The
Vallée de la Marne, the third major sub-region of Champagne. |
A view
from south of the river Marne towards the North, overlooking the south
facing slopes on the north bank |
From a
view point close to the village Boursault |
Ripe and
sun-damaged Pinot grapes |
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| And some
second generation grapes (due to the spring frost) |
The
Château de Boursault. The only (?) champagne producer called
"Chateau"-something, with a beautiful view over the river |
Picking
near Vandières |
Picking
- a back breaking activity |
You
really need some cool drinks once in a while |
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Domaine
Nowak in Vandières |
Champagne H Blin & Cie in Vincelles, a village along the river towards
Chateau Thierry |
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