Charles Dufour & Francoise Martinot Bistrotage Affinage Prolonge ++ Extra Brut B.13

Charles Dufour & Francoise Martinot Bistrotage Affinage Prolonge ++ Extra Brut B.13

Charles Dufour
$205.00

Grape: Pinot Noir 
Vintage: 2013
Type: Sparkling

Charles Dufour has expanded his production by personally farming his mother's family vineyards in the nearby Vallée de l'Arce. This expansion resulted in the Françoise Martinot and Bistrøtage labels, which offer zero-dosage, sulfur-free Champagnes from specific family plots. Each year, Charles keeps 10% of each cuvée for extra aging for the Affinage Prolongée cuvée, which is released after 4 to 5 extra years on lees. This, the 2nd and final release (hence the ++) will be aged even longer on lees. The 2013 here is the first release. As with all Bistrøtage wines, this sees spontaneous fermentation, malolactic, and then 1 year élevage, half in barrel, half in tank. Bottled in October 2014, before extended aging sur pointes. Disgorged Extra Brut in June 2025.

 

Charles Dufour is a highly respected grower-producer of natural Champagne in the Côte des Bar region of southern Champagne, France. Taking over from his family in 2010, Charles quickly adopted organic and biodynamic farming practices, which are challenging in the region's climate. He is known for crafting authentic, terroir-driven Champagnes with a minimalist approach in the cellar. Dufour uses only native yeasts for fermentation, performs long lees aging, and adds minimal to no sulfur. The wines are unfined and unfiltered, expressing the purity of the fruit and terroir.