Coat of Arms of the Grand Cru village of Avize. Note the color of the grapes. Of all the superlatives in Champagne, this is one you can absolutely take to the bank. Why Chardonnay? And why does no one talk about planting Pinot noir here? Val du Petit Morin The exception worth knowing about.
That last one, Montgueux, is a bit of a wild card. Great book for blind tasting exams. James E. This is not a bedtime read. Well, it is if you want a melatonin boost. While chockful of tremendous insight, this is a very dense and technical book. You want to treat this more as an encyclopedia—looking up a particular region—rather than something you go cover to cover with. Over time it has eroded and brought the deep chalky bedrock to the surface. This prime exposure is the first to receive warmth from the early morning sun.
During the cold spring nights of flowering after bud break , Chardonnay is most vulnerable as the earliest bloomer. It needs to get to that warmth quickly for successful pollination. Plus, being so close to the misty forest cap encourages wetter conditions that promote botrytis. This is the case with the premier cru village of Vertus. The village of Grauves is also an interesting case.
Looking at a good wine map, you can easily see why. Here most all the vineyards face westward. This video from Champagne Pierre Domi in Grauves has several great aerial drone shots of the area. For years, plantings of Chardonnay have steadily increased.
Part of this has been driven by market demand—particularly with the success of Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Another reason could be climate change with the search for more acidity and freshness. While Pinot noir likes chalk, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Both are needed for chlorophyll production and photosynthesis.
