One of the gems of Champagne, the Clos Cazals vineyard is one of only 21 enclosed vineyards in Champagne and is the biggest of its kind. Current owner Delphine's grandfather, Olivier, purchased the 3.7ha walled Grand Cru vineyard from United Nations founder and Nobel Peace Prize winner Léon Bourgeois and planted it entirely with Chardonnay in 1957. The walls of the Clos can help retain heat and allow the grapes to reach exceptional ripening with one full extra degree of potential alcohol compared to their other plots. Delphine observed that this vineyard was consistently the best and was the first of the Cazals to craft a cuvée entirely from this distinct site. Delphine then petitioned the committee to have the vineyard designated as a Clos and won the right in 1995. Today, the Clos Cazals is 100% hand-harvested Chardonnay from 65-year-old vines planted on superb chalky soil. Fermentation occurs in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats and 10% oak barrels, with malolactic fermentation. It is a fine and elegant champagne with notes of white flowers and citrus fruits but with a gorgeous minerality revealed by a minimal dosage between Extra-Brut and Brut Nature, depending on the vintage. 2014 is 12.5% alcohol, finished with a 2-gram dosage, and was aged for ten years on the lees before release. We have low pricing on two different sizes of Clos Cazals today, and it's a top buy for Champagne of this caliber.