A l’Aube de la Côte des Bar Brut Nature 2013 1500ml Magnum

Wine Description for A l’Aube de la Côte des Bar Brut Nature 2013 1500ml Magnum by Louise Brison

Colour & Appearance

Luminous pale yellow with coppery shimmer – a hint of maturity already announcing itself in the glass. The perlage is fine and persistent, rising in elegant chains.

Nose

The nose is multifaceted and strikingly complex: mellow apples, quince and ripe pear form the fruity foundation. Over this lay seductive pastry notes – buttered toast, almond biscuits and bread crust – complemented by the delicate citrus play of lemon curd and candied orange peel. A hint of candied ginger lends the whole a savoury, warming depth. Ten years of maturation on the lees have done their work here.

Palate

On the palate, a Champagne of great inner tension unfolds: The fine mousse carries a silky, almost creamy texture, whilst a forceful, vibrant acidity and pronounced Kimmeridge minerality give the wine backbone and energy. Stone fruit, drupes and a savoury-zesty note keep the aromatic profile lively. Maturity and freshness stand here in a rare, almost perfect balance.

Finish

Long, precise and saline-mineral. The finish resonates with citrus-fresh spice and a subtle brioche note – without any compromise, without dosage, without softening.

Terroir & Origin

Louise Brison’s vineyards lie at around 320 metres elevation in the Côte des Bar, the southernmost corner of Champagne. The subsoil of Kimmeridge limestone – that distinctive clay-limestone which also gives great Chablis its nervous minerality – characterises the wine with an unmistakable salinity and directness.

Grape Variety & Vinification

A precise blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay from the 2013 vintage. The base wine was fermented and aged in barrique – a bold decision that gives the wine texture and depth without sacrificing freshness. Bottled in June 2014, disgorged in February 2025 with 0 grams dosage. No sugar, no concealment – just the wine itself. The magnum bottle has further favoured the maturation and enabled the Champagne an extraordinary development.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This Champagne demands food with character: oysters with mignonette, grilled turbot with beurre blanc or a classic lobster bisque. It also harmonises beautifully with aged Comté or beef tartare with capers and mustard.

Special Features

A Brut Nature without any dosage from a demanding vintage, matured in the magnum bottle for more than a decade – this is Champagne as a statement. Louise Brison belongs to those small, uncompromising producers of the Côte des Bar who demonstrate that the south of Champagne has far more to offer than mere blending mass. This wine is proof of that.