Charles de Cazanove Millésime 2016 Brut

Millésime 2016 Brut presents a particularly clear vintage proposition within the extensive Charles de Cazanove range. This is not the house’s familiar multi-harvest introduction, but a wine identified by the 2016 harvest and a two-grape blend in which Chardonnay takes a narrow lead. For buyers who prefer to understand both the year and the assemblage, those distinctions make the bottle worth considering. The documented composition is 56% Chardonnay and 44% Pinot Noir, with the Chardonnay drawn from the Côte des Blancs. It is a balanced starting point for exploring what the house chooses to show in a vintage release. The percentages belong to the 2016 wine, however, and should not be transferred to other declared years or to the house’s Blanc de Blancs. Charles de Cazanove was founded in 1811, with historical origins in Avize and a modern base in Reims. Since the early 2000s the business has been part of the Rapeneau family’s Champagne interests. Around 35 hectares of the family vineyards are dedicated to the house, complemented by grapes from selected winegrowers. The resulting range can draw on a wide selection of sites, particularly on the Montagne de Reims. That breadth explains the different routes through the portfolio. Tête de Cuvée offers a three-grape house introduction, Premier Cru places Pinot Noir more firmly in the foreground, and Blanc de Blancs provides a pure Chardonnay alternative. Brut Nature removes dosage, while Cuvée Bio focuses on organically grown Meunier. Millésime 2016 sits apart as a specific vintage selection, bringing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay together in a clearly declared year. An attractive choice for a dinner where Champagne is more than a brief toast, this bottle also makes sense in a comparative tasting with Blanc de Blancs or Premier Cru. That contrast can reveal the different intentions behind the blends without relying on generic or invented tasting notes. For those seeking an identifiable vintage from a historic Reims house, Charles de Cazanove Millésime 2016 Brut offers a precise combination of harvest, grapes and regional sourcing.