Etienne Calsac 'Clos des Maladries' Grand Cru Avize, Champagne, France

Chalk, citrus oil, and white blossom define Etienne Calsac 'Clos des Maladries' Grand Cru Avize, Champagne, France, a single walled parcel planted by the Calsac family in the 1970s and now the flagship expression of the domaine. Situated in Avize Grand Cru and vinified separately each year, this minute clos captures the subtle yet profound shifts that define Champagne’s most challenging and celebrated vintages. The 2019, 2020, and 2021 releases offer three distinct interpretations of this historic site, each shaped by markedly different growing conditions.

Product Details:

• Producer: Champagne Etienne Calsac
• Owner: Etienne Calsac
• Winemaker: Etienne Calsac
• Wine: Clos des Maladries Grand Cru Avize
• Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyard: Single vineyard clos
• Farming: Sustainable, horse plowed parcel
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeast fermentation
• Aging: Partial oak and stainless steel
• Dosage: Brut Nature

Sensory Description:

The 2019 vintage reflects a warm and successful growing season in Champagne, delivering breadth and generosity while retaining Avize’s hallmark chalk tension. Aromas of ripe lemon, orchard fruit, and toasted almond lead into a supple yet structured palate with layered citrus and a composed mineral finish. Among the three vintages, 2019 offers the most harmoniously expansive expression, balancing ripeness with precision.

The 2020 season brought an early harvest and exceptional ripening conditions, producing fruit of greater concentration and vinous depth. This vintage shows amplified mid-palate weight and texture, with citrus oil, stone fruit, and subtle brioche tones framed by firm chalk structure. It stands as the most muscular and powerful release of the trio, combining richness with cellar-worthy architecture.

In contrast, 2021 was defined by frost, persistent rainfall, and significant disease pressure, demanding meticulous vineyard selection. The resulting wine is notably linear and mineral-driven. Aromas of lemon pith, green apple skin, crushed oyster shell, and white flowers unfold with restraint, leading to a taut, architectural palate and a long, saline finish. This is the most tension-driven and structurally focused vintage of the three, built for extended evolution.

Producer’s Background:

Founded in 2010, Champagne Etienne Calsac represents a modern generation of grower-producers in Avize committed to parcel identity and transparent winemaking. Clos des Maladries is the domaine’s historic monopole, planted by Etienne’s grandfather and formally recognized as a clos under his direction. Through indigenous fermentation, restrained dosage, and balanced élevage between oak and stainless steel, Calsac emphasizes site clarity and chalk expression, positioning this cuvée as the estate’s most precise and age-worthy statement.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 48 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass to highlight aromatic detail and mineral length. Allow time in the glass to unfold, particularly for the 2020 and 2021 vintages. Pair with oysters, caviar, sashimi, or aged Comté, where the wine’s tension and saline precision elevate both delicate and savory dishes.