Frederic Savart has been making the family’s wines (Family Domain established 1947) since 2005. Champagne Frederic Savart consists of four hectares of planted vineyards mostly to Pinot Noir with only a half hectare of Chardonnay.
Savart pays close attention to what is going on in the vineyards and cellar making wines based on the observations rather than preconceived ideas. Fermentation for the most part is done in stainless steel but he also uses some oak barriques to add different nuance or shading when he thinks it appropriate.
With every tasting opportunity I come away even more impressed. Savart’s wines are complex, precise and skillfully made. Having made great Champagne for several years his current release is any indication he has entered a golden era. Whatever he has gleaned over his first eight or nine vintages (depending on the wine in question) must have been very instructive.
While I have had the pleasure of offering these wines for sale and drinking a few along the way, getting enough to satisfy his tiny but rabid group of Champagne connoisseur elite is a challenge. Since many of you have purchased or sought these wines in the past I wanted to let you know they have arrived. Most will disappear quickly. If you want an introduction to the style of Frederic Savart start with the L’Accomplie. A good lesson in the Savart philosophy, style and precision. Striking a delicate balance between the immense power of the Pinot Noir and nuance that is ever present in his wines. If you like very dry, focused, high acid, mineral driven Champagnes, Savart makes a convincing case for why he is among the best. Try them and see if you agree.
Savart L’Accomplie Brut, NV
“L’Accomplie” is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay from both Ecueil and Villers-aux-Noeuds. The base vintage makes up 50% of the total blend with the other half coming from the previous vintage. The wine is aged in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel. Partial malolactic fermentation is allowed and the dosage is 5g/L.
Savart l’Annee Premier Cru Extra Brut, 2013
Savart’s “L’Annee” is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay and composed entirely of the vintage’s first press. It is aged entirely in 500-liter barrels on lees without malolactic fermentation. Bottling occurs with no fining or filtering and the dosage is 3g/L.
94 AG
“Creamy, ample and expressive, with a real sense of Pinot Noir red fruit inflections, the 2013 is another winner from Savart. This is an especially rich, vinous style. Above all else, the 2013 is a wine of intensity and fruit. It will drink well with minimal cellaring. Dosage is 3 grams per liter
Savart La Dame de Coeur Extra Brut, 2012
The “Dame de Coeur” is entirely Chardonnay from a single vintage’s first press. The wine is aged in oak barrels on lees without undergoing malolactic fermentation. Bottling occurs with no fining or filtering and the dosage is 2g/L. For Frederic Savart, the “Dame de Coeur” translates the fairest expression of Chardonnay from its year. Average yearly production is 1,300 bottles.
94 AG “The 2012 Extra Brut La Dame de Coeur, 100% Chardonnay from Le Mont des Chrétiens, is fabulous. Time in bottle on the yeast has done wonders for the 2012, which was much less generous and interesting when I saw it last year. Freshly cut flowers mint, chalk, white pepper and citrus notes abound. Precision, tension and class. It’s all there, and more, in this striking Champagne from Frederic Savart. Above all else, the 2012 is a wine of pure and total pleasure. Dosage is 2 grams per liter.
Savart Bulle de Rose Premier Cru Brut, NV
Composed of 70% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay, and 8% still red wine. Entirely from the village of Ecueil. It is fermented mostly in stainless steel, with around 20% of the blend made in neutral barrels. The dosage is 6g/L.
Savart Le Mont Benoit Premier Cru Extra Brut, 2014
95% Pinot Noir, 5% Chardonnay 3g/L Dosage.
Savart Expression Premier Cru Brut Nature 2014
While all of Savarts Champagnes are low production, Expression is very limited with only 400 bottles produced. It is made from 100% old vine Pinot Noir fermented in 300L casks. Single vintage and zero dosage.