Cazals

Champagne Cazals, also known as Claude Cazals, is based in the grand cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. In 1897, Ernest Cazals, a cooper from the Hérault, settled here. He had married a woman from Champagne. Since 1996, Delphine Cazals has run the house as the fourth generation. She took over the estate after the death of her father Claude.

A clos in Oger

The vineyard area covers around 9 hectares in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Vertus and Villeneuve. Other sources give 10 hectares. All of it is planted with Chardonnay. For the rosé, according to a merchant's profile, Pinot Noir from Verzenay is added.

The crown jewel is the Clos Cazals in Oger. Delphine's grandfather Olivier bought the walled, 3.7-hectare grand cru parcel from Léon Bourgeois, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The planting dates vary between sources: the "Vieilles Vignes" parcel was planted in 1957, while others give 1947. Delphine noticed that this site consistently produced the best wine. In 1995 she obtained official recognition as a clos. The walls are said to encourage ripening, with talk of one degree more sugar.

The wines

The Clos Cazals is a single-variety blanc de blancs. It is aged in oak barrels and then rests on the lees for at least ten years. Another merchant gives a minimum of nine years. A second cuvée from the clos is La Chapelle du Clos. It comes from the "Chapelle" parcel, planted in the clos in 1980. Further cuvées include Carte Or, Millésime and Rosé Grand Cru. The house counts as a small producer: around 5,500 cases a year are mentioned.

The family history also includes a technical innovation. In 1969, Claude Cazals invented the gyropalette, which mechanises the riddling of the bottles. The first gyropalette still stands in the cellar.

Visiting

According to Gault&Millau, there are on-site sales and guided visits. The house is HVE certified. Address: 28 Rue du Grand Mont, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. For opening times and conditions, it is best to ask the house directly.