Vazard-Coquart & Fils

A Chouilly, Cotes des Blancs producer making primarily Blanc de blancs

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The Vazart family, based in Chouilly in the Cotes des Blancs, has been growing grapes since the mid 1800s. They established themselves as a Grower-Producer 100 years later, establishing the brand Vazard-Coquart & Fils in 1953, and cellar master Jean-Pierre Vazart is the 3rd generation of winemakers.

They have 10.7 hectares of vines which average 30 years old, 95% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Noir. No surprise that they mainly have Chard as they are in the Cotes des Blancs, of course famous for Chardonnay.

Grapes are grown using sustainable farming, each plot of vines is vinified separately in temperature controlled stainless steel, and wines undergo malolactic fermentation.

Non vintage wines:

Vazard-Coquart Blanc be Blanc Brut Brut Reserve Blanc de blancs - 100% Chardonnay with 30-40% reserve wines added. Suggested as an appertif or to accompany a light first dish like seafood. Tasting note below.

Brut Reserve Demi Sec - The same as the Brut Reserve above, with the additional of a higher dosage making it semi-sweet.

La Cuvée Camille - A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Brut Rose - Blanc de blancs with 15-20% still Chouilly Pinot Noir added.

Vintage wines include:

Grand Bouquet Blanc de Blancs Millésimé - From their best Chardonnay plots, this is aged 5-6 years before release.

Cuvée Club Blanc de Blancs Millésimé - A "Special Club" selection, which several Grower-Producers make, in a special distinctive bottle. Aged 6-7 years before release.

Tasting Note: Vazard-Coquart Brut Reserve Blanc be Blancs - May, 2013. Rated B -
Not bad, but not exciting. Admittedly, their entry level wine, but for 100% Grand Cru fruit, this bottle just didn't deliver.

The nose has lemon, lemon curd, a little slightly spicy mineral. Very nice earthy chalk with air.

The palate  had some rounded minerals, a touch of muted pineapple, a little apple, some nice lemon, and a touch of orange sans citrus.

Interesting looking at other reviews and tasting notes afterwards. Although many extoll Vazard-Coquart and this specific wine as killer juice, both Richard Juhlin and The Champagne Warrior seems to also say "boring."  Juhlin is quite emphatic about it.

While it's Champagne, and I'll take a bottle of this almost any day, there are plenty of other bottles in the US$50 price range. Of course I can't make an overall judgment based on just one bottle, and will no doubt try more Vazard-Coquarts in the future.

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