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In recent years, the global champagne boom has continued, with many excellent producers emerging. However, Hervé Jestin has been consistently producing champagne on an entirely different level.
Finally, Hervé Jestin's Clos de Cumières 2012 is arriving in Hong Kong soon. Hervé purchased this "Clos" with his brother in 2011. The land is plowed by horses by Vincent Laval(Champagne Georges Laval), and 2012 marks the first vintage. It has been aged in the underground cellars of Champagne Leclerc Briant, where Hervé Jestin serves as the chief winemaker. Although he had shown me the newly created label in 2018, saying it would be released soon (in 2019), the release of Clos de Cumières was delayed until 2023 due to regulatory changes regarding the "Clos" designation.
There are various pieces of information about Champagne's "Clos," but only the following five are considered true "Clos," and some brands may lose the right to use this term in the future. Clos de Cumières, despite being the smallest at 0.49 ha, has been certified as a true "Clos":
* Clos du Mesnil (1.84 ha)
* Clos des Goisses (5.50 ha)
* Clos Saint-Hilaire (1.04 ha)
* Clos du Moulin (2.20 ha)
* Clos de Cumières (0.49 ha)
The vineyard consists of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, planted in 1964 and 1965. The champagne blend maintains this 50% Pinot Noir / 50% Chardonnay ratio. Biodynamic cultivation has been practiced since the time of the previous owners, the Leclerc family. The wine is aged in 100% oak barrels for 10 months, bottled in July, and then aged in the bottle for nearly 10 years. It is produced without any added sulfites. Following Duval-Leroy's Authentis, collaborations with Marguet on Sapiens and Cuvée Jestin, Hervé's unique winemaking method, which introduced biodynamics to the cellar, has evolved, and all of this expertise has been poured into Clos de Cumières.
Since 2012, between 2,000 and 3,500 bottles are produced annually (with only 1,100 bottles in 2017 due to frost damage), all produced as vintage champagne. The dosage is zero or less than 2 grams. The release order for future vintages is yet to be determined.
The 2012 vintage produced 2,341 bottles. While labeled as Extra Brut, it has zero dosage.
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