Shaman, Grand Cru (2019) - Marguet
“Shaman” is Marguet’s flagship cuvée: each number (19) indicates the main base harvest (2019), with perpetual reserves started in 2010. It is a Brut Nature Champagne, with no dosage, designed to express the Grand Cru terroir directly. Benoît Marguet is one of the pioneers of radical biodynamics in Champagne, using draught horses (Percherons) in the vineyard.
Shaman, Grand Cru (2019) - Marguet
Type: Sparkling wine or Champagne
Area: France, Champagne, Reims
Appellation: Champagne AOC Grand Cru
Grape variety: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2019
Winery: Marguet
Alcohol: 12.5%
The appellation: Champagne AOC Grand Cru
Champagne AOC Grand Cru represents the absolute pinnacle of Champagne, designating wines produced exclusively in the 17 villages classified as Grand Cru, the highest level in the quality scale of the Champagne AOC appellation.
Find out more about Champagne AOC Grand CruWhat to eat with Shaman, Grand Cru
Who makes it: Marguet
In the heart of the Montagne de Reims, at Ambonnay, one of the most prestigious Grand Cru villages of Champagne, Marguet is one of the most contemporary and radical interpretations of artisan Champagne. A house that has made biodynamics, expressive purity and the centrality of the soil the pillars of its identity.
Find out more about MarguetThe vine of Shaman, Grand Cru
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted and prestigious white grape varieties in the world, originally from Burgundy, in France. Thanks to its great adaptability to different climates and soils, Chardonnay is grown in many wine regions, expressing unique characteristics according to the terroir and the winemaking style.
Find out morePinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the most fascinating and noble black grape varieties in the world. Famous for its elegance and complexity, this variety is at the heart of some of the most prestigious wines on the globe, particularly the wines of Burgundy and Champagne AOC. Its versatility and its ability to reflect the terroir make it one of the varieties most loved by winemakers and wine lovers alike.
Find out moreShaman, Grand Cru: the area of Reims
Reims
Reims, in the Champagne region, is one of the most important historic, cultural and production centres in the world of wine.The unofficial capital of northern Champagne, Reims is surrounded by some of the most renowned Grand Cru vineyards, belonging to the Montagne de Reims, one of the region's four main subzones.
Find out more about ReimsClimate: Continental
Altitude: Low Altitude (0-200 m above sea level)
Soil: Limestone / chalk
Geographical setting: Montagne
Profile of Shaman, Grand Cru
Primary aromas: Citrus, White flowers, Apple, Pear
Secondary aromas: Yeast, almonds, Spices
Tertiary aromas: Smoke, Honey, Hazelnut
Tasting notes: A bright golden yellow colour with a fine, continuous bead. The nose is deep but precise, with ripe fruit, citrus and a clear mineral imprint. The palate is dry, taut and vibrant: a creamy yet vertical bubble, saline acidity and an elegant structure. The finish is long, dry and chalky, with returning citrus notes and an almost tactile sensation of rock and salt.
| Sulphites | yes |
| Body | Creamy |
| Acidity | High |
| Tannin | Absent |
| Sweetness | Brut |
| Finish | Long |
| Colour | Golden yellow |
| Clarity | Clear |
Winemaking methods used for Shaman, Grand Cru
Metodo Classico
The Metodo Classico is a refined sparkling winemaking technique used to produce high-quality sparkling wines. This method, also known as méthode champenoise (when speaking of Champagne), involves a second fermentation in the bottle, which gives the wine its characteristic fine, persistent bubbles, together with complex aromas and an elegant structure.
Find out moreSecond fermentation in the bottle
Second fermentation in the bottle is the distinctive stage of the Metodo Classico (or Champenoise), the technique used to produce high-quality sparkling wines. After a first fermentation that gives rise to a base wine, the wine is bottled with the addition of a “liqueur de tirage” (a mixture of sugar and yeasts) which starts a new fermentation directly in the bottle, responsible for the natural formation of the bubbles. This practice lies behind some of the world's most refined wines, such as Champagne, Franciacorta, Trento DOC and Crémant.
Find out moreAgeing methods used for Shaman, Grand Cru
In bottle (over 36 months)
Ageing in bottle for more than 36 months is a practice reserved for wines for long laying down, designed for those seeking depth, finesse and maximum aromatic development. During this extended period, the wine matures sheltered from light and oxygen, letting time do its work in silence. This stage is particularly important for vintage wines, riservas and great classics, which in this way reach a perfect balance between intensity, elegance and sensory complexity.
Find out moreTime on the lees for Shaman, Grand Cru
- Very long (over 36 months)