🍾 Cazals 2016 Clos Cazals “La Chapelle du Clos” Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut – Oger Grand Cru, Champagne, France
Grower Champagne • Grand Cru Chardonnay • 6 Years on Lees
Overview & Story
The Cazals 2016 “La Chapelle du Clos” Blanc de Blancs is a rare, vineyard-specific cuvée sourced from a plot within the walled Clos Cazals vineyard in Oger, Grand Cru village of the Côte des Blancs. Planted 25 years ago near a small chapel by Delphine Cazals and her father Claude, this plot now yields some of the most refined and expressive fruit in the domaine.
Made from 100% Chardonnay and aged for 6 years on the lees in vaulted cellars in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, this Champagne is a testament to precision winemaking, terroir transparency, and the elegance of Grower Champagne. A light touch of oak (10%) brings roundness and harmony, while a dosage of 6g/L classifies it as Extra Brut, highlighting its clean, mineral edge.
Tasting Notes
La Chapelle du Clos opens with a delicate and refined mousse, and a graceful aromatic profile:
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Aromas: White flowers, orange blossom, citrus zest, and crisp white peach
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Palate: Lively and structured, with flavors of pear, green apple, Meyer lemon, and hints of almond cream and chalky minerality
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Finish: Silky, persistent, and precise, with a saline lift and soft citrus echo
A Champagne that walks the line between gourmandise and finesse, offering both immediacy and depth.
Vineyard & Winemaking Details
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Origin: Clos Cazals – Grand Cru vineyard in Oger, Champagne
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Plot: “La Chapelle” – named after a chapel near the vines, planted in the 1990s
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Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs)
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Soil Type: Pure chalk – enhances tension and minerality
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Vine Age: ~25 years
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Farming: Hand-harvested
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Winemaking:
- Fermented in thermo-regulated stainless steel
- 10% vinified in oak barrels
- Malolactic fermentation completed
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Lees aging: 6 years in vaulted cellar
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Disgorgement: Vintage 2016
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Dosage: 6 g/L – Extra Brut
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Alcohol: 12.5%
Why It Matters
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Clos-designate Champagne: From a rare, single-walled vineyard—Clos Cazals
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Grower Champagne: Estate-grown, produced, and bottled by the Cazals family
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Oger Grand Cru: One of Champagne’s most prized terroirs for Chardonnay
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Vintage Blanc de Blancs: Aged and expressive, with excellent cellaring potential
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Minimal oak usage: Adds depth and roundness without overt influence
“La Chapelle du Clos” is a Champagne for those who value precision, texture, and purity—a cerebral yet delicious Blanc de Blancs that showcases the art of small-lot, terroir-driven Champagne.
Food Pairing Suggestions
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Seafood crudo with citrus and olive oil
- Lobster with lemon beurre blanc
- Goat cheese and herb tartlets
- Scallops or halibut with fennel cream
- Japanese sashimi or lightly smoked trout
Serve well-chilled in a tulip glass to maximize aromatic complexity and elegance.
In Summary
The Cazals 2016 “La Chapelle du Clos” Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is an elegant, site-specific Champagne that reflects the heart and soul of Oger’s Grand Cru Chardonnay terroir. Crafted with precision and grace, this wine offers a refined bouquet of citrus, white flowers, and chalk, backed by 6 years of lees aging and a whisper of oak. A rare Grower Champagne from a revered clos, it is perfect for lovers of textural complexity, mineral elegance, and vintage refinement.
A bottle to savor, celebrate, and cellar.
