Nicolas Maillart Champagne Dinner

TICKETS @ $250 PER PERSON (plus hst + gratuity) 

Price includes dinner and wines 

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Contact:

Mark Jacoby of Context Wines 

Timeline:

630pm - Arrival

645pm - Sit down for dinner

930 - Estimated end time

Menu:

Hamachi Crudo cucumber apple consommé, compressed cucumber, rice paper crisp Seared Scallop peach beurre blanc, salmon roe, pickled apple, brûléed grapefruit Agnolotti apricot, mascarpone, parmesan, toasted almond, brown butter, brown butter crumble Salmon beetroot cured salmon, broccoli purée, asparagus, pickled radish Rhubarb Cake almond financier, ricotta, mascarpone, goat

Wine:

Extra Brut Premier Cru NV

2014 Les Chaillots Gillis

2018 Mont Martin Premier Cru

Les Loges NV Premier Cru

2018 Jolivettes Grand Cru

***As an added bonus, the agency will offer a discount on wine purchased at the event

BACKGROUND:

The Maillart family has vine-growing roots tracing back to 1753, when their ancestors grew vines in the neighbouring village of Chamery; although there is a document that suggests the tradition goes back even further, referring to a “measure of vines” in 1533 that was mapped out by Pierre Maillart, a surveyor working in Chamery for the Saint Nicaise abbey. The family owns vines in the Premier and Grand Cru villages of the Montagne de Reims.

Nicolas Maillart is now the ninth generation in charge. He returned to the family vineyards in 2003 after completing his studies in engineering and oenology. His passion for the environment led him to build 130 square meters of photovoltaic panels in 2009, which represent a production equivalent to 90% of their consumption, greatly reducing the carbon footprint. The domaine is now labeled HVE (high environmental value) and sustainable viticulture, taking into account criteria such as biodiversity, pest strategy, and water management, making the family the first in Champagne to obtain this double labeling.

One of their unique plots consists of ungrafted vines. After the phylloxera crisis in the early 20th century caused tremendous damage to the vineyards, including this particular plot, the vines were gradually replanted with grafted stock. However, Nicolas' father noticed that many plants died except those that had developed their own root system. On the basis of this observation, he decided in 1973, to replant an entire plot with mass selection, non-grafted Pinot Noir, as it had originally been. Almost fifty years later, the vines are still alive and producing premium-quality grapes. Nicolas and his father decided to bottle a unique cuvée for this plot, the Les Coupes, but only in excellent years.