Susana Esteban Sparkling White Sidecar

Susan Esteban Sparkling Sidecar is the culmination of a rare and special collaboration. In 2020, renowned Champagne producer Emmanuel Lassaigne accepted the challenge of creating this wine with Susan Esteban, marking the first and, to date, only time he has created a wine outside his estate. The result is a unique and unrepeatable sparkling wine that reflects the essence of this joint experience.

On the nose, it presents a concentrated and elegant aroma, with fresh notes of apple, quince and tangerine, intertwined with delicate 'nuances' of cardamom, marzipan and brioche. On the palate, the fine bubble, with little pressure and a creamy texture, provides good volume and an irresistible charm, culminating in a harmonious and sophisticated finish.

The Wine Advocate
RP 94
Reviewed by: Luis Gutierrez

I first visited Emanuel Lassaigne at his winery in the Champagne region, accompanied by Susana Esteban, in April 2019. That visit led to a collaboration between the two, which resulted in the surprising Sidecar Sparkling Wine 2020. The base wine comes from a century-old vineyard (often used for Sidecar wines), located 700 meters above sea level in the Serra de São Mamede, in Portalegre (Alentejo). They were looking for phenolic ripeness and 10.5% alcohol with high acidity (10 grams!), coming from the granite soils. The vineyard is planted with a mixture of local grape varieties (field blend).

The grapes were harvested at the ideal point of ripeness, pressed without added sulfur in a vertical press, and fermented in two 500-liter Le Corey barrels (which she now uses for Vinyle). The wine remained in the barrels on its lees for 10 months. It underwent complete malolactic fermentation and was then bottled for the second fermentation in June 2021.