03 Jun Get To Know Champagne Jacquart and Cellar Master Floriane Eznack

While most Champagne houses date back to the 1800s and early 1900s and are steeped in tradition, Champagne Jacquart is a young Champagne house. Started in 1964, they are celebrating their 50th anniversary. And, with that youth, they are not focused on the past but rather the future, making rules and setting tradition as they go. Champagne Jacquart is like a cooperative and is owned by 1800 grape growers. With vineyards that cover 2400 hectares, they own 7% of the vineyards in Champagne. Overseeing the direction of Champagne Jacquart is Cellar Master/Head Winemaker Floriane Eznack. With less than half a dozen female Cellar Masters in Champagne, at only 35 years old, Floriane is also the youngest Cellar Master in Champagne. Born in the Cognac area and after studying enology in Reims, Floriane spent four years at Veuve Clicquot before coming to Champagne Jacquart in 2011. Perhaps Floriane was ultimately hired because she is a woman which adds value to the brand. As the youngest of her team, she never wanted to distinguished herself because of her sex. Her talent, passion and knowledge are what explain her success. Her biggest challenge when she joined Champagne Jacquart was to integrate with her existing team so that they work well together to grow the brand. Floriane explained that there are three reasons that she loves working for Champagne Jacquart: 1) Working for a young brand. 2) Working with a solid team with three other cellar masters. 3) Having more supply than what is need. She is provided with a lot of quality grapes and is able to pick what she wants. Over the last five years since Floriane joined the team, they have worked together to define the fresh and modern style of Champagne Jacquart. A Chardonnay dominant house, Floriane defines it as “straight-forward appealing wine with a soft, smooth finish and refined palate.” It is more about texture than aromas and is about “the pleasure in your mouth and about how it pairs with food,” she continued. Brut Mosaique (40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier) This pale yellow Champagne with a stream of fine bubbles represents that art of blending by creating a consistent multi-vintage wine each year. The wine has fruity aromas of pear and almond and a long finish. Blanc de Blancs 2006 (100% Chardonnay) This straw gold Champagne has notes of dried flowers and brioche. It is fresh and light on the nose and on the palate it is creamy with a long, elegant finish. Brut Rose NV (45% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, 21% Pinot Meunier) The Brut Rose is made with the Mosaique blend and then 18% of Pinot Noir from the current vintage is added. The result is a salmon pink colored rose with red berry-fruit aromas. On the palate, it is fresh and full. 2006 Prestige Cuvee (50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay) The Prestige Cuvees is made from grapes from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in the mountain areas of Reims. This wine is rich with lots of depth. On the palate, the wine starts off crisp and then rounds out with a rich finish.