Champagne Aurore Casanova – “Les Petites Vignes” Chardonnay

Champagne Aurore Casanova – “Les Petites Vignes” Chardonnay.

In the village of Mardeuil, just outside Épernay, Aurore Casanova and her husband, Jean-Baptiste Robinet, are redefining Champagne with a philosophy rooted in precision, purity, and personal expression. Aurore’s journey from prima ballerina to vigneronne seems improbable at first—but in her Champagnes, one can sense the same grace, rhythm, and balance that once guided her on stage. Champagne Aurore Casanova, founded in 2013, is a small but luminous star in the new generation of artisanal growers—organically certified, biodynamically inspired, and deeply connected to the terroirs of Puisieulx and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.

About the Winery

The winery works 4.8 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards, divided between the chalk-rich slopes of Puisieulx in the Montagne de Reims and the limestone perfection of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs. Everything here is done with purpose and patience: hand harvesting into small baskets, gravity-fed pressing, and fermentation exclusively in wood—ranging from 228-liter barrels to a 15-hectoliter foudre used for their perpetual reserve.

Aurore and Jean-Baptiste’s wines are vinous and textural, more akin to fine Burgundy in their layering than to sparkling stereotypes. Each cuvée is crafted as a portrait of place, revealing the energy of its parcel through meticulous élevage, minimal intervention, and a steadfast respect for nature. The result is Champagne that feels alive—vibrant yet serene, contemporary yet timeless.

About the Wine

“Les Petites Vignes” Chardonnay is drawn from a single east-facing Grand Cru Puisieulx vineyard planted in 1988, rooted in silt and clay over hard limestone. Composed largely of the 2021 harvest with reserve wines from 2019 and 2018, this release captures both the tension of a cool vintage and the generosity of time in oak.

Disgorged in October 2024 with a modest dosage of 1 g/L, this Blanc de Blancs opens with a golden hue and a fine, persistent mousse. The nose evolves with patience—from shy citrus and white flowers to layers of golden apple, sourdough crumb, candied orange, and pine resin, all wrapped in a faint saline breeze. Subtle oxidative tones add intrigue, while hints of spice and iodine nod to its Grand Cru origins.

On the palate, the wine moves with poised intensity: chalky, expansive, and saline, yet cushioned by a gentle roundness from extended lees aging. The balance between ripeness and restraint is striking. Notes of lemon oil, baked pear, and crushed shell lead into a lingering, savory finish, where salt and citrus echo like the final pirouette of a dancer who knows when to leave the stage.

This Champagne feels personal—crafted with intuition rather than formula. It’s vinous and gastronomic, perhaps less about celebration than contemplation; a Champagne to serve with oysters, sole meunière, or simply to admire on its own.

Conclusion

 Puisieulx “Les Petites Vignes” is a vivid expression of new-generation Champagne—honest, textured, and emotionally resonant. It bridges artistry and agriculture with quiet confidence, translating Aurore’s past in ballet into a choreography of chalk, fruit, and finesse.

A striking debut from one of Champagne’s most promising houses, it delivers clarity and character in equal measure.

We award this wine a 90-point DWA Score—a refined, saline, and elegant Blanc de Blancs that captures the spirit of a domaine dancing gracefully between nature and art.

This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. Champagne Aurore Casanova is distributed by Best of Wines, and available through their online shop.

Tasting Date: May 2025

Website:         Aurore Casanova Champagne