Récoltant-Manipulant Champagne - Grower Champagne

Benoît Déhu’s Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature is a distinctive grower Champagne from Fossoy, on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne in Champagne, France. Déhu is an eighth-generation vigneron whose family Champagne house dates to 1787. After working at Champagne Bollinger, he returned to the family estate and began pursuing a highly personal approach centered on biodynamic farming, parcel expression, low-intervention winemaking and the potential of Meunier.

Initiation is a blend of Meunier and Pinot Noir. The Meunier comes from Déhu’s celebrated La Rue des Noyers parcel, while the Pinot Noir is sourced from a small parcel lower on the hillside with predominantly clay and sand soils. Déhu planted the Pinot Noir using massale selections derived from a Pommard clone from Burgundy, bringing an intriguing Burgundian influence to this deeply Champenois wine.

La Rue des Noyers forms the heart of Déhu’s independent project: a 1.7-hectare parcel farmed biodynamically, with a portion traditionally worked by horse. Déhu is particularly known for fermenting and aging his wines in oak, including barrels made from trees harvested in the nearby forest of Fossoy. His Champagnes favor tension, energy and minerality rather than overt richness.

For the 2021 base, malolactic fermentation was blocked and the wine was bottled with no dosage, giving the Champagne its taut, dry and mineral-driven personality. The finished wine combines crushed-stone minerality with floral, herbal and red-fruited nuances, showing impressive energy and precision. The wine was disgorged on April 26, 2024.

90 Points — Vinous

“The NV (2021) Initiation is an attractive wine, perhaps a bit lithe in this release, but still very pretty. Crushed rocks, flowers, mint, dried herbs and red-toned fruit all grace the palate. Blocked malolactic fermentation and no dosage further amplify the wine's decidedly taut leanings. All things considered, this is a gorgeous 2021. Disgorged: April 26, 2024.”

— Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 90 Points

Wine Details

Producer: Benoît Déhu
Wine: Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature
Base Vintage: 2021
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Western Vallée de la Marne
Village: Fossoy
Grapes: Meunier and Pinot Noir
Meunier Source: La Rue des Noyers
Pinot Noir: Massale selection from Pommard clone; clay and sand soils
Farming: Biodynamic practices at La Rue des Noyers
Vinification: Oak fermentation and élevage; malolactic fermentation blocked
Dosage: No dosage / Brut Nature
Disgorgement: April 26, 2024
Rating: Vinous 90 Points
Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu Champagne Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature (Base 2021) 750ml

Benoît Déhu’s Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut is an expressive grower Champagne from Fossoy, on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne in Champagne, France. Déhu is an eighth-generation vigneron whose family estate dates to 1787. After working at Champagne Bollinger, Benoît returned to his family domaine and developed his own highly personal range of naturally farmed, terroir-driven Champagnes.

The 2022 Initiation Rosé is composed of 78% Meunier and 22% Pinot Noir, with 7% still red wine blended into the cuvée to create its delicate rosé character. Meunier plays a central role in Déhu’s work, particularly from his celebrated La Rue des Noyers vineyard, while Pinot Noir brings additional structure, depth and red-fruit character.

Déhu farms with a strong commitment to biodynamic and natural viticulture, including work according to the lunar calendar and the use of traditional vineyard practices. His wines are known for their careful oak vinification and élevage, with many barrels made from trees sourced in the nearby forest of Fossoy.

The 2022 Initiation Rosé is elegant, vibrant and savory, with notes of cranberry, dried flowers, ginger and cinnamon. Bright acidity and fine minerality give the wine energy and precision, while the red wine component lends subtle texture and depth. Despite its delicacy, the wine has impressive persistence and complexity.

Vinous notes that this release was bottled with no dosage, emphasizing its dry, energetic and terroir-driven style. It was disgorged beginning in April 2025, with multiple disgorgements taking place throughout the year.

94 Points — Vinous

“The NV (2022) Extra Brut Rosé Initiation is laced with cranberry, ginger, dried flowers and cinnamon. Elegant and light on its feet, the 2022 is a total delight. This deceptively understated Rosé is gorgeous. Readers should expect a decidedly savory style. The Initiation is 78% Meunier and 22% Pinot Noir, with 7% still red wine blended in. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: April 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year.”

— Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 94 Points

Wine Details

Producer: Benoît Déhu
Wine: Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut
Base Vintage: 2022
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Fossoy
Grapes: 78% Meunier, 22% Pinot Noir
Rosé Method: Blend with 7% still red wine
Farming: Biodynamic and natural viticulture
Vinification: Oak vinification and élevage
Dosage: No dosage for this release
Disgorgement: Beginning April 2025; multiple disgorgements
Rating: Vinous 94 Points
Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu Champagne Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut (Base 2022) 750ml

La Rue des Noyers Brut Nature 2020 is Benoît Déhu’s flagship single-vineyard Champagne, produced from 100% Meunier grown in the village of Fossoy on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France.

Benoît Déhu is an eighth-generation vigneron whose family estate dates to 1787. After spending several formative years at Champagne Bollinger, Déhu returned to his family domaine and began developing his own highly personal range of naturally farmed, terroir-driven Champagnes.

At the heart of his project is La Rue des Noyers, a 1.7-hectare parcel that Benoît began farming independently in 2011. The vineyard is farmed biodynamically, with approximately 0.40 hectares traditionally worked by horse. The name La Rue des Noyers refers to the trees that once bordered the parcel.

This is an unusually focused Champagne: one vineyard, one grape variety and one vintage. Made entirely from Meunier, La Rue des Noyers is designed to explore the character and potential of a grape that historically played a supporting role in Champagne blends but can produce wines of remarkable depth, energy and complexity when treated as a serious single-vineyard variety.

The wine is fermented and aged in oak barrels, many of which are made from trees harvested in the nearby forest of Fossoy. The wine spends approximately 11 months on its lees in barrel before bottling. It is made with minimal intervention, bottled unfined and unfiltered, and finished as a Brut Nature with no dosage.

The 2020 is a dry, vinous and mineral-driven expression of Meunier, combining ripe orchard fruit and citrus with savory notes, subtle spice, toasted nuances and a pronounced saline character. The oak adds texture and complexity without obscuring the wine’s energetic structure and distinctive sense of place.

La Rue des Noyers captures the signature Déhu style: intense, vibrant and energetic, with beautiful tension and fine minerality. It is a distinctive grower Champagne for those interested in single-parcel wines and the increasingly important role of Meunier among Champagne’s most progressive producers.

Vinous rates the 2020 La Rue des Noyers Brut Nature 89 Points, noting this single-vineyard Champagne within Benoît Déhu’s distinctive range of biodynamically farmed, minimalist wines from the Vallée de la Marne.

Wine Details

Producer: Benoît Déhu
Wine: La Rue des Noyers Brut Nature
Vintage: 2020
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Fossoy
Vineyard: La Rue des Noyers
Vineyard Size: 1.7 hectares
Grape: 100% Meunier
Farming: Biodynamic; a portion of the vineyard is worked by horse
Vinification: Fermented and aged in oak barrels
Élevage: Approximately 11 months on the lees in barrel
Fining / Filtration: Unfined and unfiltered
Dosage: No dosage / Brut Nature
Rating: Vinous 89 Points
Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu Champagne La Rue des Noyers Brut Nature 2020 750ml

Cazé-Thibaut · Naturellement Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut · Base 2023 · Champagne

Fabien Cazé, a tenth-generation grower, farms selected family parcels for his own small Champagne project. Naturellement is made entirely from Pinot Meunier grown across six parcels in Châtillon-sur-Marne and Vandières, on the western side of the Vallée de la Marne.

The family has tended these vineyards for generations, and Fabien's estate has been certified organic since 2018. Vineyard work is done by hand without herbicides or pesticides, with minimal soil disturbance. In the cellar, the grapes are pressed slowly and gently, moved by gravity, and fermented with native yeasts in barrels.

Extended time on fine lees and a restrained cellar approach let the fruit and place remain at the center. The result is a pure, precise Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut that showcases Pinot Meunier in a focused Champagne style.

At a Glance

• Producer: Cazé-Thibaut
• Cuvée: Naturellement
• Base: 2023
• Style: Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Meunier
• Vineyards: Six parcels in Châtillon-sur-Marne and Vandières
• Region: Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Size: 750ml

A precise, vineyard-led Champagne that puts the character of Meunier and the Marne Valley in the spotlight.

Champagne Gamet | Rive Droite | Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut | Vallée de la Marne, Champagne | NV (60% 2021 Base) | Practicing Organic

Champagne Gamet is a grower-producer based along the right bank of the Marne River — a stretch of Champagne defined by its sunny exposures, sandy clay soils over limestone, and a distinctly saline, mineral character. The estate farms with purpose: practicing-organic viticulture, old vines averaging 40 to 50 years, and a winemaking philosophy that prizes precision and terroir transparency over power. Rive Droite is the house’s signature Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, drawing fruit from the villages of Fleury-la-Rivière and Damery — two contrasting sites whose combination of ripe fruit character and firm mineral backbone defines the wine’s identity.

The blend is 85% Pinot Meunier and 15% Pinot Noir. Approximately 60% comes from the 2021 harvest, with 40% reserve wines dating back to 2014 — a depth of material that adds complexity and consistency without sacrificing freshness. Vinification is primarily in stainless steel, with roughly 10% fermented and matured in oak for texture and nuance. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in full. After secondary fermentation in bottle, the wine ages approximately 18 months on its lees before disgorgement at a low dosage of approximately 4 grams per liter, placing it firmly within the Extra Brut category and emphasizing its freshness, precision and mineral character.

The wine pours pale straw with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose opens with dried pear, white cherry, raspberry and delicate strawberry, layered with apple blossom, dried flowers and a whisper of spice. With air, blood orange peel, grapefruit, almond, brioche and crushed stone emerge. On the palate, the wine is fresh, supple and finely textured — Pinot Meunier brings roundness and generosity, while Pinot Noir adds structure and savory depth. Bright acidity and a clean saline thread carry the wine through a mouthwatering, gently nutty finish.

Serve as an aperitif or throughout the meal. Pairs beautifully with oysters, smoked salmon, sushi, shellfish, roast chicken, pork, charcuterie, mushroom dishes and soft or moderately aged cheeses. Serve well chilled at 46–50°F in a white wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass.

Wine Spectator: 92 Points — Sleek and finely textured, with flavors of dried white cherry, raspberry, blood orange peel, almond blossom and chopped nuts. A refreshing saline note carries through the mouthwatering finish.

Vinous: 91 Points — Bright, expressive and full of character, offering notes of dried pear, cherry, cinnamon, dried flowers and nuts. Silky and understated, with additional harmony emerging as the Champagne opens in the glass.

Jeb Dunnuck: 90 Points — Savory aromas of wet stone lead to delicate strawberry, light spice and grapefruit. Medium-bodied and subtly textured, with increasing richness on the palate and a salty, mineral-driven finish.

• Producer: Champagne Gamet
• Cuvée: Rive Droite
• Style: Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut
• Appellation: Champagne, France
• Region: Vallée de la Marne
• Villages: Fleury-la-Rivière and Damery
• Grape Varieties: 85% Pinot Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir
• Base Vintage: 60% 2021 harvest
• Reserve Wines: 40%, dating back to 2014
• Farming: Practicing organic
• Vine Age: ~40–50 years
• Soils: Sand, clay, limestone and marl
• Vinification: ~90% stainless steel, ~10% oak
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: ~18 months
• Dosage: ~4 g/L
• Bottle Size: 750ml

As a non-vintage Champagne, base vintage proportions, reserve wine composition, aging period, dosage and disgorgement date may vary by release.

Gamet Champagne Rosé Brut NV — Vallée de la Marne, Champagne (Base 2021)

Champagne Gamet is a fourth-generation grower-producer — récoltant manipulant — rooted in three villages on both banks of the Marne: Mardeuil on the left bank, and Fleury-la-Rivière and Damery on the right. Founded after World War I by Victoire Garnier and carried forward by Marianne Gamet today, the estate farms eight hectares of practicing organic vineyards and controls every step from vine to bottle. This Rosé Brut NV is a black-grape-only blend — 85% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir — with 8% red Meunier Coteaux Champenois vinified in foudre, built on a 70% 2021 base with 30% reserve wines back to 2014. Jeb Dunnuck awarded it 92 points. At $57.99, it is one of grower Champagne’s most compelling values.

The wine opens with bright red cherry fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper, and orange peel, lifted by vivid acidity. On the palate, it is powerful and vinous with a thick, creamy mousse, flavors of raspberry purée, juicy apricot, tea rose, and slivered almond, and a clay minerality that gives volume and structure. Aged 25 months on the lees, dosed at 5g/L, and disgorged January 2025. Festive, full-bodied, and built for the table.

"The NV Brut Rosé is a powerful, vinous Champagne. Bright red cherry fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and orange peel fill out its layers, lifted by bright acids that wrap it all together. This Meunier-driven Rosé is particularly impressive." — Jeb Dunnuck, 92 Points

"A tightly meshed rosé Champagne set on a thick, creamy mousse, with firm acidity defining flavors of raspberry purée, juicy apricot, tea rose and slivered almond." — Wine Spectator, 90 Points

• Producer: Champagne Gamet, Mardeuil, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Cuvee: Rosé Brut NV (Base 2021)
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Sub-Region: Vallée de la Marne
• Blend: 85% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir (8% vin rouge in foudre)
• Farming: Practicing Organic
• Vinification: Stainless steel with 10% oak; yes malo; 25 months on lees; dosage 5g/L
• Disgorgement: January 2025
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Red cherry, chalk, mint, white pepper, raspberry, apricot, tea rose, creamy mousse
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2029
• Best Paired With: Oysters, lobster, salmon tartare, charcuterie, strawberry desserts

A 92-point grower Champagne Rosé from one of the Marne’s most dedicated family estates — Gamet is the benchmark for what practicing organic Meunier can deliver in a glass.

94+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck
94 Points — Wine Spectator
93 Points — James Suckling
90 Points — Wine Advocate

One vineyard. Zero dosage. Pure Chardonnay from chalk. Champagne Geoffroy's 2019 Les Collinardins is an exceptionally limited, single-parcel Blanc de Blancs from a southwest-facing lieu-dit in Damery, on the border of Cumières in the Vallée de la Marne. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, matured two years in oak, aged 36 months under cork and disgorged without dosage, it is a concentrated, mineral-driven Champagne of remarkable precision and length.

The Vineyard

Les Collinardins is a southwest-facing parcel situated in Damery at approximately 104 meters above sea level on an 18% slope. Geoffroy farms approximately 0.5 hectare of Chardonnay vines planted between 1990 and 2007. The soil is siliceous clay over chalk beginning at approximately 70 centimeters depth — clay contributing richness and ripe fruit, chalk delivering freshness, tension and the persistent mineral character that defines the wine.

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay

Although the Vallée de la Marne is more commonly associated with Pinot Noir and Meunier, Les Collinardins demonstrates the depth and precision Chardonnay can achieve in a carefully selected chalk-influenced site. The wine combines citrus, pear and floral notes with a broader, more vinous texture than many traditional Côte des Blancs Champagnes.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness, carefully sorted and pressed in a traditional Coquard press, with only the finest tête de cuvée juice selected. Vinification is carried out by gravity with indigenous yeasts. The wine is fermented and matured on its lees for two years, predominantly in 600-liter oak demi-muids and smaller seasoned barrels. Malolactic fermentation did not occur, preserving the wine's racy natural acidity.

Secondary fermentation takes place under cork. The Champagne then spends approximately 36 months aging in bottle before release — without fining, filtration or dosage. The April 2024 disgorgement carries 0 g/L, making it a true Brut Nature.

Tasting Notes

The 2019 opens with aromas of candied lemon, key lime, white pear and quince, accompanied by apple blossom, honeysuckle and spring flowers. With air, notes of brioche, pastry, hazelnut, butter, smoky stone and graphite emerge.

The palate is firm, vertical and finely structured, with crisp acidity and a precise, pinprick mousse. Tangerine, lime peel, poached pear and tropical-fruit flavors are balanced by chalk, toasted almond and a subtle saline quality. Despite its richness, the wine remains energetic and incisive — its satiny texture leading into a long, dry and mineral finish marked by citrus, toast and smoky stone.

Professional Ratings

94+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck: Fantastic nose with notes of candied lime and lemon, key lime, white pear, smoky stones, tropical fruit and fresh cream. The palate is vertical and compact, with nervous tension and energy. Ripe and long on the palate, with toasty notes and building richness.

94 Points — Wine Spectator: Fragrant and enticing, with chalk, mineral, spice, apple blossom and graphite aromatics lacing flavors of tangerine, lime peel, poached quince and pear, and blanched almond and toast point. Firm and finely meshed, with a satiny texture and long, long finish. Disgorged April 2024. Drink now through 2040.

93 Points — James Suckling: Pastry aromas dominate with lemon curd, butter and spring flowers. Pinprick bubbles with crisp acidity, a lean yet elegant palate, light body and a toasty mineral finish.

90 Points — Wine Advocate: Sourced from a 0.5-hectare, southwest-facing parcel in Damery. Elevage for a full two years predominantly in 600-liter demi-muids. Disgorged without dosage in April 2024. Aromas of nashi pear, honeysuckle and nuts. Medium- to full-bodied, textural and incisive — vinous in character with a pinpoint mousse. Racy acidity and a lime-tinged finish underscore the no-malolactic vinification.

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in the Vallée de la Marne since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing individual vineyard expression, ripe fruit, indigenous-yeast fermentation, long maturation and restrained dosage. Although the family's winery is now based in Aÿ, its identity remains closely connected to the vineyards surrounding Cumières and Damery.

Food Pairing

This structured Blanc de Blancs pairs beautifully with oysters, scallops, lobster, crab, grilled sea bass, sole meunière and sushi. Its richness and mineral acidity also complement roast chicken, mushroom risotto and aged cheeses such as Comté or Parmesan.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. The wine may be enjoyed now, but its concentration and acidity should support development through approximately 2040.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Lieu-Dit Les Collinardins
Vintage: 2019
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Damery
Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
Classification: Premier Cru
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard: Les Collinardins
Parcel Size: Approximately 0.5 hectare
Vine Age: Planted 1990–2007
Exposure: Southwest
Altitude: Approximately 104 meters
Slope: Approximately 18%
Soil: Siliceous clay over chalk
Farming: Practicing organic
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Pressing: Traditional Coquard press; tête de cuvée juice only
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in seasoned oak
Barrel Aging: Approximately 2 years in 600L demi-muids
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Bottle Aging: Approximately 36 months under cork
Dosage: 0 g/L (Brut Nature)
Disgorgement: April 2024
Fining and Filtration: Neither fined nor filtered
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Guy Charlemagne Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs B.C. Origine Les Chétillons — Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 2012

Guy Charlemagne is one of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger’s most revered grower-producers, farming a precious parcel within Les Chétillons — one of the most celebrated single-vineyard Chardonnay sites in all of Champagne. The Charlemagne family tends nearly one hectare across four parcels in Les Chétillons and Les Chétillons de Haut, planted between 1970 and 1991 using massal selections on south- and east-facing slopes. The vines’ roots penetrate deep into exposed chalk, giving the wine its defining combination of concentration, salinity, and mineral precision. B.C. Origine is the estate’s most uncompromising expression: fermented in seasoned oak barrels, with malolactic fermentation completely blocked to preserve acidity and tension, and aged under natural cork — a labor-intensive technique known as tiré bouché liège practiced here since the 1988 vintage. The 2012 spent approximately 12 years on its lees before being disgorged by hand in May 2025. Production was limited to roughly 2,000 bottles — the first time this vintage was offered in a standard 750ml format.

In the glass: lemon oil, crisp orchard fruit, dried citrus, green apple, and white flowers layered with biscuit, almond, toasted bread, green tea, smoke, and subtle reductive notes. The palate is concentrated and sharply defined — fine mousse, vibrant acidity, a powerful chalk-driven backbone — leading into a remarkably long, saline finish of flint, mouthwatering bitterness, and persistent mineral tension. Best served in a white-wine or Burgundy-style glass, not a flute.

Vinous 92 — “The 2012 Blanc de Blancs Les Chétillons is creamy, open-knit and very easy to like. Lemon confit, marzipan, spice and floral overtones capture all the exuberance and radiance of the year.”

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2012
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Vineyard: Les Chétillons, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
• Fermentation: Seasoned oak barrels; malolactic fermentation blocked
• Aging: ~12 years on lees under natural cork (tiré bouché liège)
• Bottled: February 2013 | Disgorged: May 2025
• Production: ~2,000 bottles
• Alcohol: 12.5% | Size: 750ml
• Serve: 48–54°F in a white-wine or Burgundy-style glass
• Best Paired With: Caviar, oysters, lobster, seared scallops, turbot, Dover sole, roasted poultry, aged Comté

A once-in-a-decade release from one of Le Mesnil’s most important growers — 12 years on the lees, ~2,000 bottles, and a chalk-driven precision that only Les Chétillons can deliver.

Guy Charlemagne Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grande Réserve — Le Mesnil-sur-Oger & Oger, Base 2022 

Important availability note:
The Guy Charlemagne Blanc de Blancs Grande Réserve Extra Brut Grand Cru, base 2019, is expected to arrive during the last week of August 2026. All other featured Guy Charlemagne Champagnes are currently in stock.

Guy Charlemagne is one of the Côte des Blancs’ most respected grower-producers, farming Grand Cru Chardonnay in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — the village that defines the benchmark for Blanc de Blancs Champagne. The Grande Réserve is the estate’s signature non-vintage expression, assembled from Chardonnay grown exclusively in the Grand Cru villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, with reserve wines blended in to add depth, complexity, and continuity across vintages. The Extra Brut dosage keeps the wine dry and focused, allowing the chalk-rich terroir of the Côte des Blancs to speak without interference. This is the entry point into the Charlemagne range — and it sets a remarkably high bar.

Pale golden with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose is fresh and expressive: lemon zest, crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, and crushed stone, followed by subtle brioche, almond, and fresh pastry from extended lees aging. On the palate, bright citrus fruit combines with a creamy mousse and a pronounced mineral core. The finish is long, clean, and saline — chalk, lemon, and toasted hazelnut lingering with precision.

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Villages: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger & Oger
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut (with reserve wines)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon zest, orchard fruit, white flowers, crushed stone, brioche, almond, saline chalk finish
• Serve: 46–50°F
• Best Paired With: Oysters, shellfish, sushi, smoked salmon, caviar, delicate white fish, soft-ripened cheeses

Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from the village that defines the category — Guy Charlemagne’s Grande Réserve is the benchmark grower Champagne at an honest introductory price.

Guy Charlemagne | Les Coullemets — Mesnillésimes | Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut | Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne | 2016

Guy Charlemagne is a celebrated grower-producer based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — one of Champagne's most prestigious Grand Cru villages, renowned worldwide for producing Blanc de Blancs of extraordinary mineral precision, tension, and longevity. The estate's vineyards average 58–60 years of age and are planted with massal selections, contributing depth, concentration, and a strong sense of place. Guy Charlemagne uses extended bottle aging and slightly reduced pressure for its parcel wines, creating a fine mousse and elegant, creamy texture while preserving clarity and tension.

Les Coullemets is part of Guy Charlemagne's distinguished “Mesnillésimes” series — single-vineyard, single-vintage expressions of individual Le Mesnil lieux-dits that showcase the unique character of each parcel. Les Coullemets is produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in the chalk-rich soils of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, reflecting the naturally firm structure, mineral precision, and saline depth for which the village is celebrated.

The 2016 vintage in Champagne produced wines of exceptional freshness, tension, and aging potential. The bouquet opens with white flowers, crisp apple, citrus peel, and ripe pear, followed by fresh pineapple, brioche, toasted nuts, gentle spice, and a subtle smoky quality. On the palate, taut and energetic — bright acidity with a refined mousse and a pronounced chalky mineral core. Lemon, white peach, almond, and orchard fruit lead into a long, fresh finish marked by bitter citrus, salinity, and finely etched minerality. The Extra Brut dosage keeps the wine dry and focused, allowing the purity of the Chardonnay and the distinctive character of Les Coullemets to remain at the forefront. Expressive now, with the structure and concentration to develop further with additional bottle age.

Serve as a sophisticated aperitif or pair with oysters, caviar, lobster, crab, seared scallops, grilled sole, halibut with lemon butter, sushi, and mild creamy cheeses.

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne
• Cuvée: Les Coullemets (Mesnillésimes series)
• Classification: Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Appellation: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Grape: Chardonnay (100%)
• Vintage: 2016
• Vine Age: ~58–60 years; massal selections
• Alcohol: 12.5% ABV
• Serving: 48–54°F; enjoy now or cellar for further development
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2016

• Vinous — 91 pts: Laced with hints of lemon oil, chalk, mint and dried flowers. Light on its feet and vibrant — a classic Champagne from Mesnil. Bracing saline notes support the mid-palate and finish.

Guy Charlemagne Vieilles Vignes Mésnillésime — Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 2015

Guy Charlemagne's Mésnillésime is the estate's most serious statement — a single-vintage, single-village Blanc de Blancs drawn exclusively from old vines averaging 58 years of age, rooted in the chalk-rich Grand Cru soils of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The 2015 vintage delivered a warm, concentrated expression of Chardonnay, vinified partly in oak barrels without malolactic fermentation to preserve the wine's tension and mineral purity. After approximately six years of lees aging, it was disgorged with a dosage of just 3 g/L — firmly Extra Brut — allowing the terroir of Le Mesnil to speak without interference.

In the glass, pale gold with green highlights and a fine, persistent mousse. The bouquet opens with candied lemon, ripe apple, pear, acacia honey, and white flowers, deepening with air into brioche, toasted almond, flint, and a delicate iodine-like smokiness. The palate is rich yet precise — ripe orchard fruit and candied citrus layered with pastry, subtle oak, and chalky minerality, carried by bright acidity to a long, saline finish of citrus zest, flint, and vanilla. A gastronomic Champagne built for the table: oysters, caviar, lobster, roasted turbot, sole meunière, or aged Comté.

Wine Enthusiast 95 • Vinous 90 — "Done in a light-bodied, ethereal style. Dried lemon peel, crushed flowers, chamomile and dried herbs show the gentle patina of age."

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2015
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
• Cuvée: Vieilles Vignes Mésnillésime
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
• Vinification: Partially aged in oak; no malolactic fermentation
• Dosage: Approximately 3 g/L
• Lees Aging: Approximately six years
• Size: 750ml
• Serving Temperature: 48–54°F
• Best Paired With: Oysters, caviar, lobster, roasted turbot, sole meunière, aged Comté
• Cellar Potential: Enjoy now or cellar for further development

A 95-point grower Champagne from one of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger's most dedicated estates — old vines, low dosage, and six years on lees make this one of the most compelling Blanc de Blancs available today.

A Remarkable Expression of Premier Cru Pinot Noir

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Mi-Pentes Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut is an exceptional Grower Champagne that showcases the depth, elegance, and mineral precision of Pinot Noir grown in the prestigious Premier Cru village of Écueil, on the western slopes of the Montagne de Reims.

Crafted exclusively from Pinot Noir, this beautifully expressive Champagne represents the dedication of Géraldine Lacourte and Richard Desvignes, the husband-and-wife team behind one of Champagne's respected family-owned estates. Since taking over the family vineyards in 2006, they have focused on meticulous vineyard management, organic farming practices, and traditional winemaking techniques that allow the distinctive character of Écueil's terroir to shine.

The name Mi-Pentes, meaning "mid-slopes," refers to the privileged vineyard parcels located halfway up the hillsides of Écueil. These carefully selected sites provide an ideal balance of drainage, exposure, and soil composition, producing Pinot Noir with remarkable concentration, structure, and finesse.

The vineyards, with an average vine age of approximately 40 years, are cultivated with great respect for the environment. Grass is maintained between vineyard rows, while the soil beneath the vines is carefully worked to encourage healthy root systems and a natural expression of terroir.

Traditional Winemaking & Extended Aging

Mi-Pentes is produced from 100% Pinot Noir, with a portion of the wine fermented and matured in oak barrels to develop complexity, texture, and aromatic depth without overpowering the purity of the fruit.

The producer's 2020-base release incorporates reserve wines from the 2019 harvest, bringing additional maturity, consistency, and richness to the finished Champagne.

The wine spends more than three years aging on its lees, developing a fine, persistent mousse and elegant layers of toasted brioche, spice, and mineral complexity. The current producer specification lists a dosage of zero grams per liter, preserving the wine's remarkable purity and naturally dry character.

The result is a sophisticated, beautifully structured Blanc de Noirs that combines the richness of Pinot Noir with the vibrant freshness and precision of Premier Cru Champagne.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, Mi-Pentes displays a luminous golden color with delicate, persistent bubbles.

The expressive nose reveals aromas of ripe yellow orchard fruits, lemon zest, and fresh red berries, accompanied by subtle floral notes, sweet spice, and hints of toasted pastry.

On the palate, this Champagne is concentrated yet remarkably refined. The richness of Pinot Noir provides a generous, layered texture, while lively acidity and pronounced minerality bring energy and balance.

Flavors of ripe pear, golden apple, citrus peel, and delicate red fruit unfold alongside toasted almond, brioche, and a subtle touch of spice. The texture is beautifully precise, with fine bubbles and an elegant, almost creamy mouthfeel.

The finish is long, vibrant, and exceptionally persistent, leaving impressions of chalky minerality, citrus zest, and delicate savory complexity.

Food Pairing Suggestions

With its generous Pinot Noir character and elegant structure, Mi-Pentes is an outstanding Champagne for the dining table, offering considerably more versatility than a traditional aperitif.

Its depth and freshness make it an excellent companion to seared scallops, roasted lobster, grilled prawns, and richly flavored seafood dishes.

It also pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, duck breast, mushroom risotto, and delicate preparations featuring truffles or wild mushrooms.

For cheese lovers, enjoy Mi-Pentes alongside aged Comté, Gruyère, Brie, or creamy artisan goat cheeses. Its crisp acidity and mineral backbone provide a delightful contrast to rich, savory flavors.

Serving Temperature: Approximately 46–50°F (8–10°C). Serve in a white wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass to fully appreciate its complex aromas and texture.

Aging Potential: Approximately five years under proper cellar conditions, according to the producer.

Perfect For: Fine dining, special celebrations, Champagne collectors, elegant entertaining, and enthusiasts seeking an outstanding, terroir-driven Blanc de Noirs.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Mi-Pentes Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs is a compelling expression of Écueil's finest Pinot Noir—combining concentration, precision, and mineral elegance in a beautifully crafted Grower Champagne of exceptional character.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon "Mi-Pentes" Blanc de Noirs 1er Cru Extra Brut 750ml

Region: Champagne, Montagne de Reims, France
Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
Producer: Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon
Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Style: Blanc de Noirs, Extra Brut, Grower Champagne
Vineyards: Mid-Slope Premier Cru Vineyards of Écueil
Dosage: 0 g/L (Brut Nature, current producer specifications)
Bottle Size: 750ml

An Exceptional Vintage Champagne from the Montagne de Reims

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Millésime Premier Cru Extra Brut 2020 is a beautifully expressive vintage Grower Champagne that captures the elegance, purity, and distinctive mineral character of the Montagne de Reims. Produced only from grapes harvested in 2020, this Champagne offers a compelling expression of one growing season and the meticulous craftsmanship of a family-owned estate.

Located in the Premier Cru village of Écueil, Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon is led by Géraldine Lacourte and her husband, Richard Desvignes. Since returning to the family estate in 2006, the couple has dedicated themselves to thoughtful vineyard management, organic viticulture, and precision winemaking, earning recognition for Champagnes that express their origins with remarkable clarity.

The 2020 Millésime combines the richness and depth of Pinot Noir with the finesse, freshness, and aromatic elegance of Chardonnay. Sourced from carefully tended vineyards in Écueil and Les Mesneux, the grapes benefit from sandy and light clay soils that contribute to the wine's refined texture, vibrant acidity, and distinct sense of place.

Winemaking & Vintage Character

Unlike non-vintage Champagne, which incorporates wines from multiple harvests, the Millésime 2020 is a celebration of a single vintage, allowing the personality of the growing season to shine.

Following a careful harvest, the base wines are fermented and matured with meticulous attention to detail, including partial aging in oak vessels to enhance texture, complexity, and aromatic development.

Extended maturation on the lees brings greater depth, fine bubbles, and delicate notes of pastry and toasted nuts, while the exceptionally restrained dosage preserves the wine's natural freshness and mineral precision.

The result is a sophisticated vintage Champagne that balances generous fruit character with remarkable energy, elegance, and structure.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, Lacourte-Godbillon Millésime 2020 displays a luminous pale golden color with a delicate, persistent stream of fine bubbles.

The inviting bouquet opens with aromas of fresh lemon, citrus sorbet, ripe orchard fruits, and delicate white flowers. With aeration, additional layers of kumquat, fresh herbs, subtle red berries, toasted brioche, and a hint of hazelnut emerge.

On the palate, this Champagne is vibrant, beautifully textured, and remarkably precise. Pinot Noir contributes richness and depth, while Chardonnay brings brightness, finesse, and an elegant citrus-driven freshness.

Flavors of crisp apple, lemon zest, ripe pear, and delicate stone fruit unfold alongside subtle pastry notes and a distinctive chalky, saline minerality.

The mousse is fine and elegant, creating a smooth, almost creamy sensation balanced by refreshing acidity.

The finish is long, focused, and beautifully dry, leaving lingering impressions of citrus, subtle spice, and mineral freshness.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The elegance, depth, and mineral character of Millésime 2020 make it an outstanding Champagne for both aperitifs and sophisticated dining.

Pair it with freshly shucked oysters, seared scallops, lobster, sashimi, or delicately grilled fish. Its lively acidity and fine bubbles complement the richness of seafood while highlighting the wine's refreshing mineral character.

For more substantial dishes, enjoy it alongside roast chicken, veal, mushroom risotto, or delicate preparations with herbs and butter sauces.

Its precision and freshness also make it a wonderful partner for artisan goat cheese, aged Comté, and creamy Brie.

For a particularly elegant pairing, serve with pan-seared scallops, lemon butter, and fresh herbs.

Serving Temperature: Approximately 46–50°F (8–10°C). Serve in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white wine glass to appreciate its aromatic complexity.

Perfect For: Special celebrations, fine dining, Champagne collectors, elegant entertaining, and enthusiasts seeking an expressive, terroir-driven vintage Champagne.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Millésime Premier Cru Extra Brut 2020 beautifully captures the character of its vintage, combining the depth of Pinot Noir, the finesse of Chardonnay, and the mineral elegance of the Montagne de Reims. An exceptional expression of small-production, organically farmed Grower Champagne.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon "Millésime 1er Cru" Extra Brut 2020 750ml

Region: Champagne, Montagne de Reims, France
Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
Producer: Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon
Vintage: 2020
Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Style: Vintage Champagne, Extra Brut, Grower Champagne
Vineyards: Écueil and Les Mesneux
Farming: Certified Organic Vineyards
Bottle Size: 750ml

An Exceptional Single-Vineyard Expression of Premier Cru Champagne

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Parcellaire Ormes–Les Montées Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut is an exceptional, terroir-driven Grower Champagne that captures the purity, concentration, and distinctive mineral character of Pinot Noir from the Premier Cru village of Écueil, in the Montagne de Reims.

Crafted by Géraldine Lacourte and Richard Desvignes, this beautifully expressive Champagne reflects the family's generations-long connection to the vineyards of Écueil and their dedication to thoughtful, sustainable winemaking.

Unlike conventional Champagnes blended from numerous vineyard sites, the Parcellaire collection emphasizes the individuality of carefully selected parcels, allowing the distinctive personality of a particular vineyard to take center stage.

The Vineyard: Les Montées

Les Montées is a special vineyard parcel in Écueil, planted in 2006 on limestone-rich silt soils over chalk.

These soils contribute to the Champagne's mineral character, while Pinot Noir provides structure, aromatic depth, and a beautifully textured palate.

The estate's vineyard philosophy emphasizes biodiversity, healthy soils, and meticulous hands-on care. The vines are cultivated using organic and biodynamic practices, with grass cover, mechanical soil cultivation, and no herbicides. Grapes are harvested by hand to ensure careful selection and preserve fruit quality.

The result is a wine that celebrates not only the character of Pinot Noir but also the individual identity of its vineyard origins.

Traditional Winemaking & Aging

Produced exclusively from Pinot Noir, Parcellaire Ormes–Les Montées is fermented in oak barrels, bringing additional texture, complexity, and aromatic depth while preserving the natural expression of the fruit.

The wine is neither fined nor filtered, allowing its original character to remain intact. Fermentation and maturation are handled with minimal intervention, reflecting the estate's commitment to producing authentic, terroir-focused Champagnes.

For the 2022 vintage, the wine undergoes approximately 24 months of aging on its lees, followed by an additional six months of rest after disgorgement.

Finished with an exceptionally low dosage of 2.5 grams per liter, this Extra Brut Champagne offers impressive precision, freshness, and a wonderfully dry finish.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, Parcellaire Ormes–Les Montées displays an elegant pale golden color with a delicate, persistent stream of fine bubbles.

The bouquet is refined and expressive, suggesting ripe orchard fruits, fresh citrus, subtle red berries, and delicate floral notes. As the wine opens, hints of toasted almond, warm brioche, and gentle spice add depth and complexity.

On the palate, the Champagne is beautifully structured, balancing the natural richness of Pinot Noir with vibrant acidity and a pronounced mineral character.

Flavors of crisp apple, ripe pear, lemon zest, and subtle red fruit are complemented by delicate toasted notes and a finely textured mousse.

The wine's low dosage allows its purity and underlying chalky minerality to shine, creating a precise, elegant, and refreshingly dry expression of Blanc de Noirs.

The finish is long and focused, with lingering citrus freshness, subtle salinity, and savory complexity.

Food Pairing Suggestions

With its Pinot Noir-driven richness, elegant structure, and vibrant freshness, Parcellaire Ormes–Les Montées is a wonderful Champagne for pairing with food.

It pairs beautifully with seared scallops, lobster, grilled prawns, and refined seafood dishes. Its structured palate also complements roast chicken, duck breast, and delicate preparations of veal.

For an elegant dining experience, serve alongside wild mushroom risotto, truffle-infused dishes, or lightly aged cheeses such as Comté and Gruyère.

Its mineral precision and delicate acidity also make it an exceptional choice for oysters, smoked salmon, and sophisticated appetizers.

Serving Temperature: Approximately 48–52°F (9–11°C). A tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white wine glass is recommended to showcase its aromatic complexity.

Perfect For: Champagne collectors, special celebrations, elegant dining, wine enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a distinctive single-vineyard Grower Champagne.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Parcellaire Ormes–Les Montées Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut is a beautifully crafted expression of Premier Cru Pinot Noir, offering impressive purity, refined texture, and a remarkable sense of place. An outstanding Champagne for those who appreciate precision, individuality, and the artistry of small-production winemaking.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon "Parcellaire Ormes–Les Montées" Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 750ml

Region: Champagne, Montagne de Reims, France
Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
Producer: Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon
Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Style: Blanc de Noirs, Extra Brut, Grower Champagne
Vineyard: Les Montées, Écueil
Farming: Certified Organic and Biodynamic
Vinification: Oak Barrel Fermentation
Dosage: 2.5 g/L (2022 vintage)
Bottle Size: 750ml

An Exceptional Expression of Premier Cru Champagne

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Terroirs d'Écueil Premier Cru Extra Brut is an elegant, terroir-driven Grower Champagne that beautifully captures the distinctive character of Écueil, a Premier Cru village on the western slopes of the Montagne de Reims.

Crafted by Géraldine Lacourte and Richard Desvignes, this exceptional Champagne reflects generations of family winemaking tradition, meticulous vineyard management, and a deep respect for the land. The estate's roots date back to 1968, when Géraldine's parents, Jean-Guy Lacourte and Claudine Godbillon, established their Champagne house. In 2006, Géraldine and Richard left their professional careers to return to the family vineyards, bringing renewed energy and a commitment to producing expressive, site-specific Champagnes.

Terroirs d'Écueil is the estate's signature cuvée, crafted predominantly from Pinot Noir (85%), complemented by Chardonnay (15%). The grapes come from family-owned Premier Cru vineyards, where a distinctive combination of clay, sand, and chalk contributes to the wine's remarkable balance of richness, freshness, and mineral precision.

The Champagne incorporates carefully selected reserve wines, adding depth and complexity while preserving the vibrant fruit character of the current harvest. Aged extensively on its lees before release and finished with a minimal dosage, this Extra Brut offers exceptional purity, structure, and elegance.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, Terroirs d'Écueil displays a beautiful pale golden hue with a fine, persistent stream of delicate bubbles.

The expressive bouquet opens with fresh citrus, ripe orchard fruits, and subtle red berry notes, followed by delicate aromas of toasted brioche, sweet almond, and a touch of mineral complexity.

On the palate, this Champagne is vibrant, precise, and beautifully textured. The richness of Pinot Noir brings depth and generous fruit, while Chardonnay contributes freshness and finesse. Flavors of crisp apple, lemon zest, ripe pear, and subtle toasted pastry unfold across a lively, mineral-driven palate.

The finish is long, clean, and refreshingly dry, with an elegant interplay of citrus acidity, delicate salinity, and lingering mineral notes.

Professional Ratings

93 Points James Suckling: This impressive NV champagne shows what generosity and charm pinot noir is capable of in champagne. Impressive depth, but also lovely candied-citrus juiciness. Then comes a long and elegant, chalky finish. A cuvee of 85% pinot noir and 15% chardonnay, based on the 2018 vintage with 35% reserve wines from earlier vintages. It’s actually entitled to the Extra Brut designation, thanks to very low dosage. Sustainable. Drink now.

91 Wine Spectator: Racy acidity firms this tightly knit Champagne, while the fine texture softens some of the angularity and helps to show the range of the white raspberry, ground ginger, chalk and pink grapefruit pith flavors. Balanced overall, this should open nicely with short-term cellaring. Disgorged October 2016. Best after 2019. 3,300 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Food Pairing Suggestions

An outstanding aperitif Champagne, Terroirs d'Écueil is equally impressive at the table. Its vibrant acidity, fine bubbles, and refined structure make it a versatile companion to a wide range of dishes.

Pair it with freshly shucked oysters, shrimp cocktail, scallops, sushi, or delicate seafood preparations. It also complements roast chicken, creamy mushroom dishes, and soft-ripened cheeses such as Brie and Camembert.

For an elegant appetizer, serve alongside smoked salmon, delicate gougères, or freshly baked blinis with crème fraîche.

Ideal For: Celebrations, elegant dinners, Champagne enthusiasts, special occasions, and anyone seeking an authentic expression of small-production Grower Champagne.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Terroirs d'Écueil Premier Cru Extra Brut is a beautifully crafted Champagne that combines the richness of Pinot Noir, the finesse of Chardonnay, and the unmistakable mineral character of the Montagne de Reims. A sophisticated and memorable expression of its Premier Cru origins.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon "Terroirs d'Écueil" 1er Cru Extra Brut

Region: Champagne, Montagne de Reims, France
Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
Producer: Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon
Grapes: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Style: Extra Brut, Grower Champagne
Dosage: Approximately 3–3.5 g/L

A Beautiful Expression of Premier Cru Rosé Champagne

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Rosé Premier Cru Extra Brut is an elegant, beautifully expressive Grower Champagne that captures the finesse and vibrant red-fruit character of Pinot Noir grown in the Premier Cru village of Écueil, on the western slopes of the Montagne de Reims.

Produced by Géraldine Lacourte and Richard Desvignes, this sophisticated Rosé reflects generations of family winemaking tradition, meticulous vineyard care, and a commitment to expressing the distinctive character of Champagne's terroir.

The husband-and-wife team returned to the family estate in 2006, bringing a renewed focus to vineyard quality, organic farming, and carefully considered winemaking. Their approach emphasizes precision and authenticity, allowing the personality of their Premier Cru vineyards to shine through in every bottle.

Expert Ratings

Wine Advocate 91 Points: "Based on the 2021 vintage, and augmented by 45% reserve wines (mostly from 2020, along with 6% red wine from 2019), Lacourte-Godbillon’s NV Premier Cru Rosé was disgorged in June 2024 with a dosage of three grams per liter. Opening with enticing aromas of tangerine zest, red apple and red plum, it leads into a medium- to full-bodied, elegant palate underpinned by a racy spine of acidity and ample chalky structure, concluding with a delicately perfumed finish. This is a rosé Champagne of finesse rather than power." —Kristaps Karklins

Winemaking & Vineyard Character

Crafted entirely from Pinot Noir, Lacourte-Godbillon Rosé combines the richness and structure of this noble grape with the freshness and elegance of a finely balanced Champagne.

For the 2021-base Extra Brut release, the blend incorporates 45% reserve wines from the 2020 and 2019 harvests, adding depth and complexity while maintaining a lively fruit-driven character.

A small portion of Pinot Noir is vinified as red wine in oak barrels, contributing the Champagne's beautiful salmon-pink color and delicate red-fruit aromas. The balance of the wine is carefully fermented and matured to preserve freshness, texture, and purity.

Extended aging on the lees brings greater complexity and finesse to the finished Champagne, while the low dosage of just 3 grams per liter ensures a wonderfully dry, precise, and refreshing finish.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, this Champagne displays a delicate salmon-pink color with a fine, persistent stream of elegant bubbles.

The expressive bouquet opens with aromas of wild strawberries, red cherries, fresh raspberries, and red currants, complemented by hints of citrus zest, delicate florals, and subtle toasted almond.

On the palate, Lacourte-Godbillon Rosé is beautifully balanced, combining generous red-fruit flavors with vibrant acidity and a refined mineral backbone.

Notes of ripe strawberry, red apple, cherry, and blood orange unfold across a fresh, rounded palate, accompanied by gentle hints of brioche, almond, and chalky minerality.

The mousse is delicate and creamy, creating a beautifully textured mouthfeel without sacrificing the wine's energy and precision.

The finish is long, dry, and exceptionally refreshing, with lingering impressions of red berries, citrus, and subtle savory complexity.

Food Pairing Suggestions

With its vibrant fruit character, elegant acidity, and refined structure, Lacourte-Godbillon Rosé is wonderfully versatile at the table.

It pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, salmon tartare, seared tuna, grilled shrimp, and delicate seafood appetizers. Its Pinot Noir character also makes it an excellent companion to roasted poultry, duck breast, and charcuterie.

For cheese lovers, serve alongside creamy Brie, Camembert, fresh goat cheese, or mature Cantal.

For an elegant seasonal pairing, enjoy this Rosé with fresh strawberries, a summer tomato and burrata salad, or a delicate red-fruit dessert.

Serving Temperature: 46–50°F (8–10°C). Serve in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass to appreciate its aromatic complexity and fine bubbles.

Perfect For: Romantic dinners, celebrations, elegant entertaining, Champagne tastings, special occasions, and anyone seeking a beautifully crafted, small-production Rosé Champagne.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Rosé Premier Cru Extra Brut is a captivating expression of 100% Pinot Noir—combining vibrant red-fruit aromas, exceptional freshness, refined minerality, and the unmistakable elegance of Premier Cru Champagne.

Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon Rosé 1er Cru Extra Brut 750ml

Region: Champagne, Montagne de Reims, France
Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
Producer: Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon
Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Village: Écueil, Premier Cru
Style: Rosé Champagne, Extra Brut, Grower Champagne
Dosage: 3 g/L (2021-base release)
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pascal Agrapart · Complantée Extra Brut · Grand Cru

Six-Grape Field Blend · Avize, Champagne, France · 750ml

Producer & Terroir

Established by Arthur Agrapart in 1894, the family domaine has bottled under its own label since its inception. Based in Avize in the Côte des Blancs, its approach centers on expressing village terroirs and a steadfast commitment to organic viticulture. Ambroise Agrapart joined his father Pascal with the 2018 vintage.

Complantée brings together Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier, co-planted as a field blend. The retained reviews describe different releases, so their base-vintage, disgorgement and dosage details should not be assumed to identify the bottle currently offered.

Tasting Character

The reviews below describe floral and citrus aromas, pear, almond and mineral notes, with fine bubbles and a persistent finish. Individual releases vary, from the airy depth described by Vinous to the more austere, high-acid expression reviewed by Wine Advocate.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling, 94 Points, reviewed June 2022: This has a pretty nose of white flowers, daffodils, blanched almonds, lemons, white grapefruit and salted peanuts. Bright and full of personality with very fine bubbles. Open and vibrant. Made from a field blend of 6 varieties, co-fermented in barriques.

Vinous, 94 Points, reviewed December 2024, release described as 2020: The NV Extra Brut Complantée Grand Cru is terrific. It’s bright and persistent, with terrific balance. The blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier and Chardonnay, all co-planted, works so well in adding what the vintage itself is missing. White pear, jasmine, crushed rocks, mint and sage all take shape in the glass. Airy and light on its feet, with terrific depth, the 2020 is superb. (AG)

Wine Advocate, 92 Points, reviewed December 2024, 2021-based release disgorged August 2024: The NV Extra Brut Grand Cru Complantée, disgorged in August 2024 with a dosage of three grams per liter, derives from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbanne and Petit Meslier, all planted (in 2003 and 2015) within the same three plots in Avize. The maturity of each grape variety is different; however, they are harvested on the same day. Based on the 2021 vintage with just 10% reserve wines from 2020, it’s a wine with a chiseled, rather austere personality, marked by the cool season and defined by its vegetal material. Unfurling from the glass with scents of elderflower, lychee, mint and lemon zest, it’s medium-bodied with screeching acidity, concluding with a long, precise finish. Right now, it expresses the grape varieties more strongly than the place, but Ambroise hopes that, as the vines grow older, “it will be easier to read the terroir.” Stylistically, it could not be more different from Avizoise. (KK

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Pairing & Serving Suggestions

Try chilled with oysters, delicate seafood or a simple fish dish. A white-wine glass is a useful option for exploring the field blend’s aromatic detail.

Wine Details

• Producer: Pascal Agrapart
• Cuvée: Complantée
• Appellation: Champagne
• Village: Avize
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Style: Extra Brut
• Country: France
• Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier
• Viticulture: Organic practices, as described in the existing estate notes
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Egly-Ouriet | Les Crayères VV | Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut | Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne | Practicing Organic

Egly-Ouriet is one of Champagne's most revered grower-producers, based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay on the Montagne de Reims. Francis Egly farms his parcels with meticulous care — practicing organic viticulture, harvesting by hand, and working exclusively with indigenous yeasts — producing Champagnes of uncommon depth, vinous texture, and site-driven precision that have earned the domaine a cult following among collectors and sommeliers worldwide.

Among the rarest and most celebrated wines in the Egly-Ouriet portfolio, Les Crayères VV is a single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs made entirely from old-vine Pinot Noir. VV stands for Vieilles Vignes — old vines. The fruit comes exclusively from the legendary Les Crayères parcel, located just east of Ambonnay, planted largely in 1946 and 1947. The vineyard occupies a prized south-facing site with only a thin layer of topsoil above a deep bed of pure chalk — the name Les Crayères itself refers to this intensely chalky terroir. Very old vines, naturally low yields, and chalk-rich soils produce Pinot Noir of extraordinary concentration, minerality, and freshness.

Harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (small proportion of new oak), with malolactic fermentation blocked to preserve energy and acidity. The wine spends approximately six years aging on its lees before disgorgement, and is finished with an exceptionally low dosage — bottled unfined and unfiltered, preserving its depth, texture, and individual vineyard character.

Deep golden in the glass. Aromas of ripe pear, dried apple, red berries, and bitter orange unfold alongside toasted brioche, roasted nuts, honey, cocoa, and warm baking spices. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated — fine, persistent mousse, layers of red fruit, ginger, cardamom, and toasted pastry, balanced by mouthwatering acidity, pronounced chalky structure, and a long, saline mineral finish. Although immediately impressive, this is a Champagne built to develop gracefully in the cellar.

An exceptional Champagne for the table — pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, lobster, roasted poultry, duck, charcuterie, wild mushrooms, richly flavored fish, aged Comté, Parmesan, and other firm, mature cheeses.

• Producer: Egly-Ouriet
• Cuvée: Les Crayères VV (Vieilles Vignes)
• Classification: Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut
• Appellation: Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Vineyard: Les Crayères single parcel, Ambonnay
• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vine Age: Planted 1946 & 1947
• Farming: Practicing organic
• Soils: Pure chalk with thin topsoil
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; French oak barrels (small % new)
• Malolactic Fermentation: Blocked
• Lees Aging: ~6 years
• Dosage: Exceptionally low
• Bottling: Unfined and unfiltered
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Base vintages, dosage, and disgorgement dates may vary by release.

Egly-Ouriet | VP (Vieillissement Prolongé) | Grand Cru Extra Brut | Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne | Practicing Organic

Egly-Ouriet is one of Champagne's most revered grower-producers, based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay on the Montagne de Reims. Francis Egly farms his parcels with meticulous care — practicing organic viticulture, harvesting by hand, and working exclusively with indigenous yeasts — producing Champagnes of uncommon depth, vinous texture, and site-driven precision that have earned the domaine a cult following among collectors and sommeliers worldwide.

One of the most distinguished cuvées in the Egly-Ouriet portfolio, VP stands for Vieillissement Prolongé — extended aging. This exceptional Champagne spends more than seven years resting on its fine lees before disgorgement, considerably longer than most non-vintage Champagnes and even many vintage bottlings. The extended maturation creates remarkable depth, complexity, and a beautifully integrated texture that sets VP apart as one of the great prestige cuvées of the grower Champagne world.

The blend is approximately 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, drawn from Grand Cru vineyards in Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Verzenay. Harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels, with malolactic fermentation blocked to preserve natural acidity and tension. A very low dosage preserves the wine's energy, precision, and distinctly chalky character — bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Rich and vinous yet exceptionally focused: aromas of red apple, spiced pear, yellow peach, and blood orange, followed by toasted brioche, roasted nuts, baking spices, and subtle floral notes. The palate is full and layered — fine, creamy mousse, vibrant citrus acidity, and pronounced mineral tension, with ginger, orchard fruit, toasted bread, and crushed chalk carrying through an exceptionally long, saline finish. Impressive upon release, yet built to develop beautifully with additional bottle age.

Powerful enough to accompany an entire meal — superb with scallops, lobster, crab, roasted poultry, duck, mushroom risotto, aged Comté, and other firm, nutty cheeses.

• Producer: Egly-Ouriet
• Cuvée: VP (Vieillissement Prolongé)
• Classification: Grand Cru Extra Brut
• Appellation: Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Villages: Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzenay
• Grape Varieties: ~70% Pinot Noir, ~30% Chardonnay
• Farming: Practicing organic
• Soils: Chalk-rich
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; French oak barrels
• Malolactic Fermentation: Blocked
• Lees Aging: 7+ years
• Dosage: Very low
• Bottling: Unfined and unfiltered
• Bottle Size: 750ml

As this is a non-vintage Champagne, base vintages, reserve-wine proportions, dosage, and disgorgement dates may vary by release.

Egly-Ouriet | Les Vignes de Bisseuil | Premier Cru Extra Brut | Bisseuil, Montagne de Reims, Champagne | Biodynamic

Egly-Ouriet is one of Champagne's most revered grower-producers, based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay on the Montagne de Reims. The domaine farms its parcels with meticulous care — practicing organic and biodynamic viticulture, harvesting by hand, and working exclusively with indigenous yeasts — producing Champagnes of uncommon depth, vinous texture, and site-driven precision.

Les Vignes de Bisseuil is the estate's Chardonnay-led expression, drawn from a 1.5-hectare parcel in the Premier Cru village of Bisseuil, situated directly beside the Grand Cru of Aÿ. South-facing, chalk-rich slopes and vines over 40 years old deliver fruit of concentration, freshness, and crystalline mineral definition — a brighter, more finesse-driven counterpoint to the domaine's powerful Pinot Noir-dominant cuvées.

The current release blends 70% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, and 15% Pinot Meunier, fermented and matured in French oak barrels with approximately 10% new oak. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve natural acidity and tension. The wine spends approximately 48 months aging on its lees before disgorgement, and is finished with a dosage of approximately 1 gram per liter — bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Bright and expressive on the nose: lemon zest, crisp pear, Mirabelle plum, and white flowers, with notes of fresh bread, toasted nuts, white pepper, and subtle spice. The palate is concentrated yet energetic — refined mousse, vibrant citrus acidity, and a pronounced chalky minerality, with ripe orchard fruit and a gently creamy texture leading to a long, precise, and saline finish.

Exceptional as an aperitif; equally at home alongside oysters, shellfish, smoked salmon, grilled fish, sushi, roast chicken, charcuterie, creamy cheeses, and lightly aged Comté.

• Producer: Egly-Ouriet
• Cuvée: Les Vignes de Bisseuil
• Classification: Premier Cru Extra Brut
• Appellation: Bisseuil, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Grape Varieties: 70% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier
• Vine Age: 40+ years
• Farming: Practicing organic / biodynamic
• Soils: Chalk-rich
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; French oak barrels (~10% new)
• Malolactic Fermentation: Blocked
• Lees Aging: ~48 months
• Dosage: ~1 g/L
• Bottling: Unfined and unfiltered
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim

• James Suckling — 94 pts: Bright and precise, with lemon zest, pear, and white flowers on the nose. Concentrated yet energetic on the palate — chalky minerality, vibrant acidity, and a long saline finish. A benchmark grower Champagne from Bisseuil.
• Decanter — 93 pts: Refined and mineral-driven, with crisp orchard fruit, toasted nuts, and a creamy mousse. Exceptional freshness and length.
• Wine Advocate — 93 pts: Elegant and focused, with a pronounced chalky character and impressive depth. Unfined and unfiltered — a pure expression of Bisseuil terroir.

Blend proportions, base vintages, lees-aging period, dosage, and disgorgement date may vary by release.

Expert Reviews - Base 2021

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Emmanuel Brochet’s NV Le Mont Benoit (2021 base), which includes 40% reserve wines from 2020 and 2019, was disgorged in May 2024 with a dosage of four grams per liter—slightly higher than usual. He notes that this modest adjustment was necessitated by the incisive profile of the base vintage. The wine unfurls from the glass with aromas of green apple, chamomile and peeled almond. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, chiseled, bright and laden with electric acidity, culminating in a long, chalky finish marked by a distinctive bitterness. Stylistically, this bottling slightly diverges from recent iterations shaped by a string of warm vintages, but qualitatively speaking, it is unmistakably the same superb cuvée. While Brochet himself expresses a degree of dissatisfaction due to its higher malic acid, such critique speaks to the standards of a perfectionist. This rendition, in all likelihood, will age beautifully over the coming years.  

Memo Summary Notes

The Emmanuel Brochet Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut "R21" is a highly sought-after, "unicorn" grower Champagne. It is crafted by Emmanuel Brochet, a cult producer based in Villers-aux-Nœuds on the Montagne de Reims, known for his tiny production and extremely meticulous organic farming.

The "R21" notation indicates that the base year for this non-vintage release is the 2021 harvest.

Gamet La Vallée Suspendue Extra Brut Réserve Perpétuelle — Champagne NV

Gamet is a small grower estate in the Marne Valley, and La Vallée Suspendue is their most distinctive cuvée — a Meunier-dominant blend of 80% Pinot Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir, and 5% Chardonnay, built on a 2016 base with 50% reserve wines drawn from a perpetual reserve that stretches back to 1999. That solera-style reserve is the wine's defining feature: it adds extraordinary depth, complexity, and a sense of continuity that no single vintage could achieve alone. Dosed at just 4 g/L, the Extra Brut designation keeps the wine focused, dry, and expressive. Awarded 93 points by both Jeb Dunnuck and Vinous.

The nose leaps from the glass with lemon curd, meringue, pastry dough, marzipan, and red berries, evolving toward dried pear, tangerine oil, spice, and exotic yellow flowers with air. On the palate, the wine is rich and resonant — savory, salty, and brothy in the best sense — with a fluffy mousse and a chalky, textured finish of real length and character. Vinous calls it "incredibly distinctive," and it is: a Champagne of rare personality with the structure to evolve over the next decade.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 • Vinous 93 — "Rich, resonant… incredibly distinctive. Those elements combine in a Champagne I admire most for its overall balance." — Vinous

• Producer: Gamet, Marne Valley, Champagne, France
• Appellation: Champagne
• Blend: 80% Pinot Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir, 5% Chardonnay
• Base Vintage: 2016
• Reserve Wine: 50% from a perpetual reserve dating to 1999
• Style: Extra Brut
• Dosage: 4 g/L
• Disgorged: June 2023
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon curd, meringue, pastry dough, marzipan, red berries, dried pear, tangerine oil, spice, yellow flowers, chalky finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, roast poultry, aged cheeses, charcuterie, mushroom dishes

93 points from Jeb Dunnuck and Vinous. A perpetual reserve dating to 1999. Gamet's La Vallée Suspendue is Marne Valley grower Champagne at its most complex and compelling.

Gaston Chiquet | Tradition | Premier Cru Brut | Vallée de la Marne, Champagne | NV (68% 2021 Base) | Sustainable

Wine Spectator: 92 Points — Vivacious and well balanced, with integrated acidity and a refined mousse. Ripe black cherry, blackberry, Meyer lemon peel, biscuit and white flowers, followed by a lingering mineral finish. (Disgorged February 2024)

Vinous: 90 Points — Rich and expressive, showing dried pear, chamomile, spice, dried flowers, mint and marzipan. Meunier and Pinot Noir give the wine its generous texture and broad presence. (Disgorged February 2025)

Jeb Dunnuck: 90 Points — Bright and inviting, with notes of fresh berries, citrus, flowers and peach. Juicy and medium bodied, with a soft, pillowy mousse and a clean finish.

The Wine Advocate: 90 Points — Inviting aromas of yellow orchard fruit, fresh peach, honeycomb, citrus and warm biscuits lead to a fleshy, charming palate with a refined mousse, ripe fruit and lively balancing acidity. (Disgorged November 2019)

Gaston Chiquet is one of Champagne's most storied grower-producers. In 1919, brothers Fernand and Gaston Chiquet became pioneers among the region's independent growers by producing and selling Champagne from their own fruit — a tradition now carried forward by eighth-generation Nicolas Chiquet from the Premier Cru village of Dizy in the Vallée de la Marne. Tradition is the house's flagship non-vintage Brut, a classic three-grape blend that has defined the Chiquet style for generations.

The current release is composed of 40% Pinot Meunier, 35% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir, drawn entirely from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in Dizy, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Ay and Ay. The vines are rooted in clay and limestone soils over the region's underlying chalk. The base is 68% from the 2021 harvest, supplemented by reserve wines from 2018 through 2020 — a blend that maintains the estate's consistent house style while adding depth and complexity.

Grapes are harvested by hand and vinified entirely in stainless steel, preserving the purity of fruit and the character of each vineyard site. Malolactic fermentation is completed in full, softening the wine's natural acidity and contributing to its rounded, accessible texture. Following secondary fermentation in bottle, Tradition spends more than 48 months aging on its lees — an extended maturation that develops a fine, persistent mousse and layers of fresh bread, biscuit and toasted nut complexity. The wine is finished at a dosage of approximately 6 grams per liter, producing a dry but beautifully balanced Brut style.

Golden yellow in color, Tradition opens with aromas of ripe pear, golden peach, fresh apricot and red berries, followed by white flowers, citrus peel, chamomile and freshly baked bread. Subtle notes of almond, biscuit, ginger and crushed chalk emerge as the Champagne opens in the glass. The palate is lively, creamy and well balanced — Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir bring a generous, vinous texture, while Chardonnay provides freshness and lift. Flavors of peach, black cherry, blackberry, Meyer lemon and toasted pastry develop across the palate, leading to a persistent, dry and mineral-driven finish.

Approachable enough to serve as an aperitif but structured enough for the table. Pairs beautifully with oysters, shrimp, smoked salmon, sushi, roast chicken, pork, charcuterie, fried appetizers, mushroom dishes and moderately aged cheeses. Serve well chilled at 46–50°F in a white wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass.

• Producer: Gaston Chiquet
• Cuvée: Tradition
• Classification: Premier Cru Brut
• Appellation: Champagne, France
• Region: Vallée de la Marne
• Villages: Dizy, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Ay and Ay
• Grape Varieties: 40% Pinot Meunier, 35% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir
• Base Vintage: 68% 2021 harvest
• Reserve Wines: 32%, from 2018–2020
• Farming: Sustainable
• Soils: Clay and limestone over chalk
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: 48+ months
• Dosage: ~6 g/L
• Alcohol: ~12.5% ABV
• Bottle Size: 750ml

As a non-vintage Champagne, base vintages, reserve wine proportions, dosage, lees aging period and disgorgement dates may vary by release. Critic ratings may apply to different disgorgements of the same cuvée.

Gaston Chiquet | Tradition | Premier Cru Brut | Vallée de la Marne, Champagne | NV

Wine Spectator: 90 Points — Vibrant and balanced, with flavors of nectarine, candied orange peel, slivered almond and oyster shell set on a lacy texture. Fragrant hints of white blossoms and lemon thyme show on the finish. #86 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2022.

Jeb Dunnuck: 90 Points — Golden yellow hue, packed with yeasty aromas of fresh bread dough, golden peach, chamomile and ginger. A youthful and fluffy mousse fills the palate, leaning toward a full-bodied style, with a rich texture, well-balanced mid-palate and a broad-shouldered finish.

The Wine Advocate: 90 Points — An inviting bouquet of crisp yellow orchard fruit, fresh peach, honeycomb, Meyer lemon and warm biscuits. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming, with a youthfully frothy but refined mousse, a succulent core of fruit and ripe but racy balancing acidity. Already drinking well.

Gaston Chiquet is one of Champagne’s most storied grower-producers. In 1919, brothers Fernand and Gaston Chiquet became pioneers among the region’s independent growers by producing and selling Champagne from their own fruit — a tradition now carried forward by eighth-generation Nicolas Chiquet from the Premier Cru village of Dizy in the Vallée de la Marne. Tradition is the house’s flagship non-vintage Brut, a classic three-grape blend that has defined the Chiquet style for generations and earned a place on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list.

The blend is led by Pinot Noir, with Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, drawn entirely from Premier Cru vineyards in Dizy, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Ay and Ay. The vines are rooted in clay and limestone soils over the region’s underlying chalk. Grapes are harvested by hand and vinified entirely in stainless steel, preserving the purity of fruit and the character of each vineyard site. Malolactic fermentation is completed in full. Following secondary fermentation in bottle, Tradition spends more than 48 months aging on its lees, developing a fine, persistent mousse and layers of fresh bread, biscuit and toasted nut complexity. Finished at a dosage of approximately 6 grams per liter.

Golden yellow in the glass, the wine opens with aromas of dried apricot, golden peach, fresh citrus and a hint of honeycomb, followed by warm biscuit, chamomile and ginger. The palate is lively and richly textured — nectarine, candied orange peel, white peach and slivered almond are carried by a lacy mousse and bright, racy acidity through a long, fragrant finish of white blossoms and lemon thyme.

Serve well chilled at 46–50°F. Pairs beautifully with oysters, shrimp, smoked salmon, sushi, roast chicken, pork, charcuterie, fried appetizers, mushroom dishes and moderately aged cheeses.

• Producer: Gaston Chiquet
• Cuvée: Tradition
• Classification: Premier Cru Brut
• Appellation: Champagne, France
• Region: Vallée de la Marne
• Villages: Dizy, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Ay and Ay
• Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay
• Farming: Sustainable
• Soils: Clay and limestone over chalk
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: 48+ months
• Dosage: ~6 g/L
• Bottle Size: 750ml

As a non-vintage Champagne, base vintages, reserve wine proportions, dosage, lees aging period and disgorgement dates may vary by release. Critic ratings may apply to different disgorgements of the same cuvée.

Geoffroy “Expression” Premier Cru Brut is the signature non-vintage Champagne of this historic grower-producer. Built around the 2021 harvest and enriched with an equal proportion of reserve wines from a perpetual blend begun in 1970, Expression brings together ripe orchard fruit, red-fruit nuance, chalky minerality and a finely detailed mousse.

The blend is sourced from Premier Cru vineyards in Cumières and Hautvillers in the Vallée de la Marne. Pinot Noir and Meunier provide body, fruit and vinous depth, while Chardonnay contributes citrus freshness, precision and lift. A very low dosage of 3 grams per liter gives the wine a dry, focused profile while preserving the generosity and expressive fruit that define the Geoffroy style.

The Place

Expression reflects vineyards planted on the right bank of the Grande Vallée de la Marne, primarily around the Premier Cru village of Cumières, with additional fruit from Hautvillers Premier Cru.

Cumières lies between the Marne River and the forested slopes northwest of Épernay. Its favorably exposed hillside vineyards are particularly well suited to Pinot Noir and Meunier, producing wines with ripeness, generous fruit and notable vinosity. Chardonnay brings additional freshness and finesse to the final blend.

The soils vary across the source parcels and include clay-limestone, marl and sand. Clay contributes breadth and fruit concentration, while limestone and chalk provide freshness, structure and a persistent mineral character. The varied soils and exposures allow Geoffroy to create a layered Champagne that expresses the broader personality of the Vallée de la Marne rather than a single vineyard.

The Expression Cuvée

Expression is considered the introductory or foundational cuvée of Champagne Geoffroy, but its production is far from simple. The wine is assembled from several vineyard parcels, three grape varieties and an extensive collection of reserve wines.

The Geoffroy family describes Expression as its “memory wine,” connecting the character of the current harvest with previous generations. Each release combines a substantial proportion of the base vintage with wine drawn from the estate’s perpetual reserve, which was established by René Geoffroy in 1970.

This reserve system gives the Champagne consistency and complexity while allowing each new base vintage to remain visible. The youthful energy of 2021 is balanced by the depth, texture and maturity contributed by reserve wines spanning many previous harvests.

The Base-2021 Blend

The base-2021 release is composed of:

35% Meunier
35% Pinot Noir
30% Chardonnay

Approximately 50% of the blend comes from the 2021 harvest. The remaining 50% comes from Geoffroy’s perpetual reserve, which contains wines dating from its establishment in 1970 through the years preceding the 2021 harvest.

Meunier contributes aromatic fruit, suppleness and immediate charm. Pinot Noir gives the wine structure, depth and subtle red-fruit character. Chardonnay adds citrus freshness, floral lift and mineral precision.

Together, the three varieties produce a Champagne that is ripe and generous without becoming heavy, with firm acidity and chalky minerality preserving energy throughout the finish.

The 2021 Base Vintage

The 2021 growing season in Champagne was cooler and more difficult than several of the warm, dry vintages that preceded it. Careful vineyard selection was essential, but successful growers produced wines with bright acidity, aromatic freshness and a distinctly classical Champagne profile.

In Expression, the lively character of the 2021 base wine is complemented by the broader texture and maturity of the perpetual reserve. The result combines the freshness and tension of the vintage with the depth and continuity of a multi-vintage blend.

Viticulture

Champagne Geoffroy follows a practicing-organic and sustainability-focused approach in the vineyard. The estate avoids chemical weedkillers, encourages biodiversity, cultivates cover crops and works the soil to maintain healthy microbial activity and deeper root systems.

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and carefully sorted before pressing. Geoffroy’s emphasis on ripe, healthy fruit is especially important because Expression is intended to display both freshness and a distinctive vinous richness.

The source vines are generally more than 30 years old and are distributed among multiple Premier Cru parcels in Cumières and Hautvillers.

Winemaking

The grapes are pressed in a traditional Coquard press. Vinification is conducted parcel by parcel, allowing the character of each vineyard, grape variety and soil type to be assessed before the final blend is assembled.

The base wines are fermented and matured in a combination of temperature-controlled enameled tanks and neutral oak barrels. The perpetual reserve is maintained in concrete tanks, which allow the reserve wine to develop texture and complexity without contributing overt oak flavor.

Malolactic fermentation is only partially completed for this release. Retaining a portion of the wine’s natural malic acidity helps preserve freshness and tension, while partial malolactic fermentation softens the texture and adds balance.

The assembled Champagne underwent secondary fermentation in bottle and matured for approximately 30 months on its lees. Extended lees contact contributes the creamy mousse and subtle notes of brioche, bread dough and pastry found in the finished wine.

The dosage is only 3 grams per liter, giving Expression a notably dry profile. This restrained dosage highlights the wine’s acidity, chalky mineral character and savory complexity while allowing its ripe fruit to remain expressive.

Tasting Notes

The base-2021 Expression pours a bright straw-yellow color with a persistent stream of fine bubbles. The bouquet opens with fresh apple, pear, quince and preserved lemon, accompanied by red currant, ripe black cherry and orange peel.

As the wine opens, additional notes of white flowers, crushed chalk, toasted brioche, pastry cream, smoke and subtle nuttiness emerge. The reserve-wine component contributes depth and maturity, while the 2021 base preserves aromatic freshness and energy.

The palate is medium-bodied, focused and beautifully balanced. Firm acidity is wrapped in a creamy, finely detailed mousse, producing a Champagne that feels both energetic and polished. Orchard fruit and citrus are joined by subtle red-fruit flavors, toasted bread and a lightly pithy texture.

A distinct mineral foundation runs through the wine, bringing notes of crushed stone and chalk to the foreground. The finish is crisp, savory and persistent, with preserved lemon, brioche and mineral flavors lingering after each sip.

Expression is approachable upon release, but its combination of reserve-wine complexity, vibrant acidity and extended lees aging allows it to develop additional richness and harmony with short-term cellaring.

Professional Ratings

93 Points — James Suckling: "Dry with delicious sliced-apple and chalk aromas and flavors with crushed-stone undertones. It™s medium-bodied with a focused palate and a crisp, delicious finish. Nicely done. Drink now." 2025-08-05

92 Points — Wine Spectator: "A mouthwatering version, with firm acidity swathed in the creamy, finely detailed mousse, this offers a rich, tightly meshed range of ripe black cherry, preserved lemon, toasted brioche, smoke and pastry cream flavors. A minerally underpinning drives the finish. Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged September 2024. 750 cases imported. - AN"

91 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: "A bright yellow hue, the NV Champagne 1er Cru Expression Brut is from the 2020 vintage but includes perpetual reserve wines going back to 1970. The nose displays notes of nectarine, golden apples, hay, and a hint of nuttiness or bread. Medium-bodied, with good balance on the palate, it™s quite harmonious and very tasty all around, with a fluffy mousse, notes of orange citrus, and a clean, savory finish. It™s quite approachable and will drink well now or over the coming 5-7 years. 5 grams per liter dosage."

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vines in Cumières since the 17th century. Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy represents the fifth generation of his family to grow grapes and produce wine in the Vallée de la Marne.

The family began placing greater emphasis on estate-bottled Champagne after the Second World War. In the 1970s, René Geoffroy decided to retain the family’s entire crop for Champagne production rather than selling grapes to larger houses. He also established the perpetual reserve that remains central to Expression today.

The estate now farms approximately 14 hectares, with most of its vineyards located in Cumières and additional parcels in Hautvillers, Damery and Fleury-la-Rivière. Although the winery and cellars are now located in Aÿ, the identity of Champagne Geoffroy remains deeply connected to the slopes of Cumières.

Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy’s approach combines careful vineyard work, ripe fruit, parcel-by-parcel vinification and restrained dosage. The wines are known for their balance of vinous depth, energetic acidity and precise expression of the Vallée de la Marne.

Food Pairing

Expression is an excellent aperitif, but its texture, low dosage and substantial reserve-wine component also make it a versatile food Champagne.

Serve with oysters, shrimp, crab cakes, smoked salmon, seafood pastries, scallops, sushi or tempura. It also pairs beautifully with roast chicken, veal sweetbreads, pork tenderloin, mushroom tart, aged Comté and other firm, savory cheeses.

The wine’s acidity and chalky finish cut through butter and cream, while its orchard-fruit, brioche and subtle red-fruit flavors complement roasted poultry, pastry-based appetizers and richer seafood dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 46–50°F. A white-wine glass rather than a narrow flute will allow the wine’s orchard fruit, brioche, mineral and reserve-wine aromas to develop more fully.

Expression is ready to drink upon release and may be enjoyed over the next five to seven years. Additional bottle age will soften the mousse and encourage more developed notes of toasted nuts, honey, pastry and dried orchard fruit.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Expression
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Villages: Cumières Premier Cru and Hautvillers Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Non-Vintage Brut Champagne
Base Vintage: 2021
Blend: 35% Meunier, 35% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay
Vintage Composition: 50% 2021 and 50% perpetual reserve
Perpetual Reserve: Established in 1970
Soils: Clay-limestone, marl and sand
Vine Age: Generally more than 30 years
Farming: Practicing organic and sustainability-focused
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Press: Traditional Coquard press
Fermentation: Enameled tanks and neutral oak barrels
Reserve-Wine Aging: Concrete tanks
Malolactic Fermentation: Partial
Lees Aging: Approximately 30 months
Dosage: 3 grams per liter
Disgorgement: September 2024
Alcohol: Approximately 12.5%
Bottle Size: 750ml

Geoffroy “Expression” Premier Cru Brut Champagne — Base 2021

93 Points — Jeb Dunnuck
92 Points — James Suckling
91 Points — Wine Advocate

Geoffroy “Empreinte Millésime” 2018 is a vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown in three historic Premier Cru parcels in Cumières. Powerful yet refined, it captures the ripe red-fruit character of this celebrated Vallée de la Marne village while preserving freshness, mineral tension and a finely detailed mousse.

The wine is sourced from mature, south-facing vines planted on the midslope above the Marne River. Fermentation and maturation in large oak vessels build texture and complexity without obscuring the purity of the Pinot Noir. After extended aging on the lees and a very low dosage, the finished Champagne offers ripe orchard fruit, citrus, red berries, fresh bread, toasted nuts and a distinctive saline finish.

The Place

Cumières is a historic Premier Cru village in Champagne’s Vallée de la Marne, located immediately west of Hautvillers and northwest of Épernay. Its vineyards rise steeply from the right bank of the Marne River, benefiting from predominantly south- and southeast-facing exposures.

The village’s warm, sunny slopes allow Pinot Noir to achieve excellent ripeness. Cumières Champagne is consequently known for its expressive fruit, generous texture and distinctly vinous character. The underlying chalk and limestone preserve freshness and mineral tension, preventing the wines from becoming overly broad or heavy.

Although Champagne Geoffroy’s winemaking facilities are now located in Aÿ, the family’s identity remains inseparable from Cumières, where it has cultivated vines since the 17th century.

The Empreinte Vineyards

Empreinte is drawn from three historic Cumières Premier Cru parcels:

Les Chalmonts
Les Barremonts
Les Pêchers

The vineyards lie on the midslope at approximately 160 meters above sea level, with a gradient of around 19%. Their southerly exposure promotes full Pinot Noir ripeness, while the slope provides natural drainage and excellent sunlight throughout the growing season.

The soils are composed principally of clay and limestone with fragments of millstone and flint. Clay contributes body, ripe fruit and textural generosity. Limestone and chalk provide freshness, structure and salinity, while flinty elements can contribute the delicate smoky or reductive mineral character frequently found in the wine.

The source vines average approximately 40 years of age. The parcels are selected annually, harvested together and pressed as a single expression of mature-vine Pinot Noir from Cumières.

The Meaning of Empreinte

“Empreinte” translates as “imprint” or “mark.” The name reflects the domaine’s intention to capture the distinctive imprint of Cumières terroir through Pinot Noir.

The cuvée represents one of the estate’s historic and defining wines. Rather than blending across villages or grape varieties, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy uses Empreinte to highlight the depth, ripeness and mineral structure Pinot Noir can achieve on the warm slopes of Cumières.

The Grape: 100% Pinot Noir.

Although Pinot Noir is a dark-skinned grape, the juice is naturally clear. Gentle pressing with minimal skin contact produces a white Champagne known as Blanc de Noirs.

Pinot Noir provides Empreinte with structure, body and aging potential, together with characteristic flavors of red apple, cherry, raspberry and subtle red currant. Mature vines and extended lees aging add further layers of citrus, toasted bread, nuts, spice and savory mineral complexity.

The 2018 Vintage

Empreinte 2018 is a true vintage Champagne, produced solely from grapes harvested during the 2018 growing season.

The warm, generous vintage allowed Pinot Noir in favorably exposed Cumières vineyards to achieve excellent maturity. The resulting Champagne possesses ripe fruit and a broad, enveloping texture, but sufficient acidity and mineral structure maintain balance and freshness.

The vintage produced a comparatively approachable expression of Empreinte, combining concentrated Pinot Noir character with a creamy mousse, fresh citrus and a delicate saline edge.

Viticulture

Champagne Geoffroy practices sustainable and increasingly organic viticulture. Chemical weedkillers are avoided, vineyard soils are cultivated and cover crops are encouraged to improve biodiversity and soil health.

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum maturity and carefully sorted. Achieving full physiological ripeness is central to the Geoffroy style, particularly for a low-dosage wine such as Empreinte, where there is very little added sweetness to soften or disguise the character of the base wine.

Pressing and Vinification

The Pinot Noir is pressed in a traditional Coquard press. Only the finest first-pressing juice, known as the tête de cuvée, is selected.

The individual vineyard parcels are handled by gravity and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The 2018 was vinified principally in large 20-hectoliter Stockinger oak casks, together with other neutral barrels and demi-muids.

Large-format, seasoned oak allows the wine to develop greater breadth, texture and oxygen-derived complexity without contributing excessive new-oak flavor. It also complements the naturally rich and vinous character of mature-vine Cumières Pinot Noir.

The wine is neither heavily fined nor filtered, preserving its natural texture and aromatic complexity.

Lees Aging and Dosage

The importer lists approximately 66 months of aging on the lees. Jeb Dunnuck describes the wine as spending a minimum of five years sur latte before disgorgement.

This extended lees maturation develops the Champagne’s fine mousse and contributes notes of brioche, fresh bread, pastry, almond and toasted nuts.

The bottles reviewed by James Suckling and Wine Advocate were disgorged in December 2024 with a dosage of only 1 gram per liter. This extremely low dosage gives the wine a dry, focused profile and allows its Pinot Noir fruit, chalky minerality and delicate phenolic structure to remain clearly defined.

Skurnik’s broader technical profile lists 3 grams per liter for the cuvée, indicating that dosage may vary between disgorgement lots. Both figures fall within the Extra Brut category.

Tasting Notes

The 2018 Empreinte displays a luminous copper-straw color with a persistent stream of small, finely formed bubbles.

The bouquet opens with sliced apple, pear, white grapefruit and orange zest, followed by raspberry, red currant and other subtle red-fruit notes. With air, aromas of honey, fresh bread, brioche, toasted almond and Madagascar vanilla become more pronounced.

A delicate flinty reduction frames the fruit and contributes additional mineral complexity. The oak is present primarily as texture and gentle toast rather than overt wood flavor.

On the palate, the Champagne is medium- to full-bodied, firm and generous. A creamy mousse surrounds ripe apple, citrus and red-berry flavors, while vibrant acidity maintains energy and definition.

The mid-palate is broad, textural and enveloping, yet the wine remains controlled and precise. Pinot Noir contributes a subtle phenolic grip, leading to a delicately bitter, gastronomic finish marked by grapefruit pith, almond, chalk and salty spice.

This is a substantial but elegant Blanc de Noirs: expressive enough to enjoy now, yet sufficiently structured to develop greater nutty, savory and brioche complexity with additional bottle age.

Professional Ratings

93 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Champagne Premier Cru Cumières Blanc de Noirs Empreinte Extra Brut is a more elegant and approachable wine in this vintage, pouring a bright copper/straw color and offering notes of fresh almond, fresh bread, white grapefruit, red fruit, and delicate flinty reduction that frames the nose. Made from 100% Pinot Noir from the best plots of Cumières and raised in oak with a minimum five years sur latte, it™s medium-bodied and has a creamy texture and a fine mousse with just a subtle salty spice. It is not the most obvious wine in the tasting, but it will offer a lot of refreshing enjoyment over the next 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2035."

92 Points — James Suckling: "Sliced apples, berries, honey and toasted bread on the nose of this dry, expressive Champagne. Lovely pinot noir character, firm but generous. Tight bubbles. Pinot noir from Cumieres. Disgorged December 2024. 1 g/L dosage. Drink now or hold."

91 Points — Wine Advocate: "Geoffroy™s 2018 Blanc de Noirs Cumieres Empreinte originates from several south-facing parcels in Cumieres, averaging 40 years of age. These parcels are annually selected, harvested and pressed together, then vinified primarily in 20-hectoliter Stockinger casks. Disgorged in December 2024 with a dosage of one gram per liter, the wine bursts from the glass with expressive aromas of pear, orange zest, brioche and Madagascar vanilla. Full-bodied, textural and enveloping on the palate, it displays notable mid-palate sweetness despite its low-dosage style. Ripe yet vibrant acidity complements the wine, while Pinot Noir phenolics assert themselves on the delicately bitter finish. Made with full malolactic fermentation, this cuvee stands apart from the rest of the range, offering a richer, fruit-forward profile that's full of charm."

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Estate bottling began during the 1950s, and René Geoffroy later expanded the domaine and established its reputation as an independent grower-producer.

Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy manages the estate with his wife, Karine. Although the family moved its winemaking operations to a historic property in Aÿ in 2008, most of its vineyards remain in Cumières.

The domaine farms approximately 14 hectares, including roughly 11 hectares in Cumières, with additional parcels in neighboring Vallée de la Marne villages.

The Geoffroy style is built around ripe fruit, individual parcel selection, traditional pressing, oak fermentation and extended cellar aging. The wines combine the generosity of the Vallée de la Marne with energetic acidity, restrained dosage and a distinctive vinous character.

Food Pairing

Empreinte is a gastronomic Champagne particularly well suited to poultry, mushrooms and mature cheeses.

Recommended pairings include Bresse chicken with morels, roast chicken, quail with grapes, duck breast, veal, pork tenderloin and a fricassee of wild mushrooms.

It also pairs beautifully with seared tuna, grilled salmon, lobster, scallops, truffle risotto and savory pastry dishes. Mature Comté, Gruyère, Parmesan and other aged cheeses complement its toasted-almond and brioche character.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 50–54°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or a generous white-wine glass. The producer recommends serving Empreinte at approximately 11–12°C.

A wider glass allows its Pinot Noir fruit, oak-derived texture and mature lees aromas to develop more fully than a narrow flute.

The Champagne is ready to drink now but should continue to evolve through approximately 2035. Additional bottle age will encourage more developed notes of toasted nuts, dried fruit, honey, brioche and savory spice.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Empreinte Millésime
Vintage: 2018
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard Sources: Les Chalmonts, Les Barremonts and Les Pêchers
Exposure: Predominantly south-facing
Altitude: Approximately 160 meters
Slope: Approximately 19% gradient
Vine Age: Approximately 40 years and older
Soils: Clay-limestone with fragments of millstone and flint
Farming: Sustainable and practicing organic
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Press: Traditional Coquard press; tête de cuvée juice
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in large oak casks, barrels and demi-muids
Lees Aging: Approximately 66 months
Disgorgement: December 2024 for the bottles reviewed
Dosage: 1 g/L for the December 2024 reviewed disgorgement; importer profile also lists 3 g/L for the cuvée
Alcohol: 12.5%
Recommended Drinking: 2025–2035
Bottle Size: 750ml

Geoffroy “Empreinte Millésime” Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Extra Brut 2018

95 Points — Jeb Dunnuck
93 Points — James Suckling
93 Points — Wine Advocate

Ten years on the lees. One of Champagne's most patient cuvees. Geoffroy's 2015 Terre Millésime is produced only in selected years from the finest barrel and cask selections in Cumières Premier Cru — and held back a full decade before disgorgement. The result is a vintage Champagne of remarkable depth and harmony: ripe stone fruit, dried citrus peel, chalk and iodine, framed by a pillowy mousse and a long, crystalline saline finish. Disgorged July 2024 with zero dosage.

The Place

Cumières is a historic Premier Cru village in Champagne's Vallée de la Marne, situated west of Hautvillers and overlooking the Marne River. Its favorably exposed hillside vineyards are known for producing Champagnes with ripe fruit, vinous texture and expressive personality. Clay and limestone contribute richness and structure; underlying chalk preserves freshness and mineral definition.

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vines here since the 17th century, and Cumières remains the heart of the estate's identity and production.

The Terre Millésime Cuvee

Terre Millésime is Geoffroy's most ambitious and age-worthy cuvee — produced only in exceptional years and never released young. The assemblage is drawn from a selection of barrels and casks chosen through comprehensive tastings, and the composition varies by vintage. In 2015, the blend is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.

Following secondary fermentation, the wine spends approximately ten years aging sur lattes before disgorgement. This extended lees contact develops a refined, complex mousse and layers of brioche, toasted nut, spice and savory mineral character that could not be achieved through shorter aging.

The wine is disgorged without dosage — 0 g/L — making it a true Brut Nature despite the Extra Brut designation on the label.

The 2015 Vintage

The 2015 growing season in Champagne was warm and generous, producing concentrated, expressive fruit with excellent natural ripeness. For Terre Millésime, the vintage delivered the depth, structure and aging potential required for a decade of lees maturation. The result is a wine with ripe stone fruit, mature citrus and a muscular yet fresh profile that Jeb Dunnuck describes as having "volume without weight."

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Gentle pressing selects only the finest juice. Fermentation and maturation take place in a combination of oak barrels and larger casks, contributing texture, complexity and a subtle oak influence that frames rather than dominates the wine.

After assemblage, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and spends approximately ten years aging on its lees before disgorgement in July 2024. It is released without fining, filtration or dosage.

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Terre Millésime opens with an expressive bouquet of dried orange peel, apricot, crisp pear, ripe apple and spice, with a faint hint of sage and iodine. Notes of sea spray, toast and gentle oak emerge with air.

The palate is medium- to full-bodied and pillowy, with a rounded, fleshy mousse that fills the palate and enhances the wine's broader structure. Bright acidity and a taut, chalky core provide focus and tension, while the generous mid-palate delivers stone fruit, lemon and savory complexity. The finish is long, dry and mineral, with persistent crystalline salinity and lingering citrus, toast and chalk.

Professional Ratings

95 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: Ripe notes of apricot, black fruits, savory cologne, iodine, sea spray and toast. Medium to full-bodied with volume without weight and a long palate. A rounded mid-palate with a mousse that fleshes out and fills the palate. A touch more oak influence frames the wine while retaining freshness, with persistent crystalline salinity through the finish. They do not produce this cuvée every year, but when they do, they hold it back ten years before disgorgement. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Drink 2025–2040.

93 Points — James Suckling: Spicy and expressive, with aromas of grapefruit, cedar, cloves and gingerbread. Firm, dry and vinous, with toasty layers and rounded bubbles. 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Zero dosage. Drink now or hold.

93 Points — Wine Advocate: The most harmonious wine in Geoffroy's portfolio this year. As always, the product of barrel and cask selection based on comprehensive tastings, followed by extended maturation sur lattes. The assemblage is never identical year to year. In 2015: 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. Expressive bouquet of dried orange peel, apricot, crisp pear and spice with a faint hint of sage. Medium- to full-bodied and pillowy, with bright acidity and a taut, chalky core leading to a long, saline finish.

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing ripe fruit, individual vineyard expression, long cellar aging and restrained dosage. The estate farms approximately 14 hectares, with most vineyards in Cumières and additional parcels in neighboring Vallée de la Marne villages.

Food Pairing

An exceptional gastronomic Champagne for roast chicken, lobster, scallops, mushroom risotto, veal, pork tenderloin, duck and aged cheeses such as Comté, Gruyère or Parmesan. Its depth and saline finish also make it a natural partner for truffles, foie gras and richly sauced poultry dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 50–54°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or generous white-wine glass. The 2015 is drinking beautifully now and should continue developing richer brioche, toasted-nut and savory complexity through 2040.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Terre Millésime
Vintage: 2015
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Extra Brut Champagne
Blend: 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
Farming: Practicing organic and sustainability-focused
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Lees Aging: Approximately 10 years
Disgorgement: July 2024
Dosage: 0 g/L (Brut Nature)
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

93+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck
92 Points — James Suckling

Pure Chardonnay. Ninety months on the lees. Two grams of dosage. Champagne Geoffroy's 2017 Volupté Millésime is a refined and deeply expressive Blanc de Blancs from two chalk-rich lieux-dits in Cumières Premier Cru — Tourne Midi and Les Chênes — parcels prized for the mineral precision and white-fruit character they bring to Chardonnay. Fermented in equal parts oak and enamel-lined steel, aged without malolactic fermentation and disgorged in November 2024, it is a silky, chiseled Champagne with a long, chalky and beautifully defined finish.

The Place

Cumières is a historic Premier Cru village in Champagne's Vallée de la Marne, situated west of Hautvillers and overlooking the Marne River. Although the village is more commonly associated with Pinot Noir and Meunier, its chalk-rich lieux-dits of Tourne Midi and Les Chênes are especially well suited to Chardonnay, producing wines with mineral precision, white-fruit clarity and the freshness to support extended lees aging.

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay

Chardonnay is Champagne's most mineral-expressive variety and the sole grape in Volupté. In the chalk-influenced soils of Tourne Midi and Les Chênes, it develops white peach, ripe lemon and green apple character alongside a pronounced chalky minerality and the hazelnut complexity that emerges with extended lees contact.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness and carefully sorted. Vinification is conducted in an equal combination of oak barrels and enamel-lined stainless-steel tanks — oak contributing texture and breadth, steel preserving freshness and aromatic precision. Malolactic fermentation is avoided, retaining the vintage's natural acidity and mineral tension.

After assemblage, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and spends approximately 90 months aging on its lees — gaining exceptional texture, aromatic complexity and finely integrated bubbles. It is disgorged in November 2024 with a dosage of just 2 g/L, keeping the finish dry, focused and distinctly mineral.

Tasting Notes

The 2017 Volupté displays a bright straw-gold color with an elegant, persistent stream of fine bubbles. The bouquet opens with white peach, ripe lemon, green apple and smoky wet stone, joined by raw hazelnut, subtle mocha and a delicate reductive tension that lifts and focuses the nose.

The palate is medium-bodied and silky, with a creamy mousse, polished texture and bright, persistent acidity. Candied citrus, white fruit and toasted nuts lead into a long, chalky and beautifully defined finish. Spicy and overt, with lanolin and exquisite green apple and lemon interplay, the wine shows chewy acidity and polished phenolics that give it both energy and elegance.

Professional Ratings

93+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck: Bright straw/yellow color with notes of mocha, ripe lemon balm, smoky wet stones, white peach and raw hazelnut. A slight reduction, but not pronounced. Medium-bodied with a silky texture and clean, bright acidity. Disgorged November 2024 with 2 g/L dosage. Drink 2025–2040.

92 Points — James Suckling: An overt and spicy wine full of toasty aromas with an exquisite mix of green apples and lemons. A bit of lanolin. Medium-sized bubbles with long chewy acidity and polished phenolics. Drink now.

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing individual vineyard expression, ripe fruit, indigenous-yeast fermentation, long maturation and restrained dosage. The estate farms approximately 14 hectares, with most vineyards in Cumières and additional parcels in neighboring Vallée de la Marne villages.

Food Pairing

An excellent match for roasted or grilled white fish, langoustines, lobster, scallops, goat cheese, aged Parmesan and seared foie gras. Equally compelling as a sophisticated aperitif.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a white-wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass. Delicious now for its freshness and complexity, but structured to develop further through approximately 2040.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Volupté Millésime
Vintage: 2017
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyards: Tourne Midi and Les Chênes
Farming: Practicing organic and sustainable
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Vinification: 50% oak barrels, 50% enamel-lined stainless steel
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Lees Aging: Approximately 90 months
Disgorgement: November 2024
Dosage: 2 g/L (Extra Brut)
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Champagne Geoffroy · Empreinte Millésime 2018 · Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut

Geoffroy Empreinte 2018 is a pure expression of Pinot Noir from Cumières Premier Cru in the Vallée de la Marne. Sourced from three midslope plots, this vintage Blanc de Noirs combines depth and richness with a lively, fresh palate, making it a Champagne with a place at the dinner table as well as the opening toast.

Producer & Terroir

The Geoffroy family’s roots in Cumières date to the 17th century, with vineyards passed from generation to generation. Roger and Julienne Geoffroy began producing their own bottles in the early 1950s. Jean-Baptiste joined the estate at the end of the 1980s, and in 2008 he and his wife Karine moved the winemaking and commercial operations to Aÿ.

Empreinte is fermented and aged in demi-muids and barrels, without malolactic fermentation. A further 66 months on the lees adds depth, while a dosage of 3 g/L completes its Extra Brut style.

Producer Tasting Note

Champagne Geoffroy: On the nose, a complex bouquet of aromas of red fruit, baked apple and hints of dried fruit. Airy, lively and nervous on the palate. With its balance of richness and freshness, this Champagne stands out. It has the depth and complexity to accompany a gourmet meal. A fine match for roast poultry or mature cheeses.

Serving & Pairing Suggestions

Serve chilled with roast poultry or mature cheeses, as recommended by the producer. Its balance of richness and freshness makes it a thoughtful choice for a gourmet meal.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
• Cuvée: Empreinte Millésime
• Vintage: 2018
• Origin: Cumières Premier Cru, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
• Style: Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut
• Vineyards: Three midslope plots
• Fermentation and aging: Demi-muids and barrels
• Malolactic fermentation: None
• Lees aging: 66 months
• Dosage: 3 g/L
• Bottle size: 750ml

A food-friendly vintage Champagne that pairs Pinot Noir depth with freshness.

Geoffroy Rosé de Saignée Premier Cru Brut is a deeply colored, intensely vinous rosé Champagne produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown in the Premier Cru village of Cumières. Based exclusively on the ripe 2019 harvest, this is not a delicate pink Champagne created by blending red and white wines. Instead, it is made by the traditional saignée method, in which Pinot Noir grapes remain in contact with their skins until the juice develops its vivid color, concentrated red-fruit character and distinctive structure.

The result is a powerful yet beautifully balanced rosé Champagne, filled with wild strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, pomegranate and blood-orange flavors. Its generous fruit is supported by ripe acidity, a finely textured mousse and the firm mineral structure of Cumières’ clay-limestone soils.

The Place

The grapes come entirely from Cumières, a Premier Cru village in Champagne’s Vallée de la Marne. Cumières is situated between the Marne River and steep, favorably exposed slopes immediately west of Hautvillers.

The village’s vineyards generally face south and southeast, receiving abundant sunlight and allowing Pinot Noir to reach excellent ripeness. This warmer exposure contributes to the broad texture, ripe fruit and distinctly vinous character traditionally associated with Cumières Champagne.

Geoffroy’s source vineyards are planted on clay, sandstone and limestone soils over deep chalk. Clay contributes body, richness and red-fruit concentration, while limestone and chalk bring freshness, mineral tension and structure.

The 2019 Base Vintage

This release is produced entirely from the 2019 harvest rather than being blended with reserve wines from several vintages. Although legally labeled non-vintage Champagne, it is effectively a single-vintage expression of Cumières Pinot Noir.

The 2019 growing season was marked by periods of frost, intense summer heat and drought, followed by favorable conditions approaching harvest. Pinot Noir from well-positioned sites achieved considerable ripeness and concentration while retaining the acidity necessary for balance.

In Geoffroy’s Rosé de Saignée, the vintage produced a Champagne with rich red-fruit intensity, full body and a generous texture, balanced by vibrant acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish.

The Grape: 100% Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir gives this Champagne its color, structure and vinous depth. The variety contributes flavors of wild strawberry, raspberry, cherry, blackberry and pomegranate, together with the body required to accompany substantial dishes.

Unlike many rosé Champagnes, no still red wine is added to create the color. The natural ruby and copper tones come entirely from contact between the clear Pinot Noir juice and the dark grape skins.

The Saignée Method

“Saignée” translates literally as “bleeding.” In this method, ripe red grapes are placed into a vat and allowed to macerate with their skins. Once the desired color, aroma and structure have been extracted, the free-run juice is drawn away—or “bled”—from the vat.

Geoffroy favors gentle infusion rather than aggressive extraction. The whole berries undergo approximately 70 to 80 hours of cold maceration in open, tapered oak vats. Careful temperature control and fully ripe fruit allow color and flavor to develop gradually without producing excessive bitterness or harsh tannins.

This technique creates a rosé Champagne with considerably more body, fruit concentration and gastronomic versatility than a conventional blended rosé.

Viticulture

The Pinot Noir vines are approximately 30 to 40 years old and are cultivated in selected parcels on the Cumières hillsides. Yields are deliberately limited to increase concentration and preserve the individual expression of the village.

Champagne Geoffroy follows a practicing-organic, sustainability-focused approach. The estate avoids chemical weedkillers, encourages biodiversity and works to preserve healthy vineyard soils.

The grapes are harvested by hand at full ripeness and carefully sorted before entering the vat. Achieving optimal ripeness is essential for this cuvée because the skins remain in contact with the juice for several days.

Vinification and Aging

After approximately three to four days of maceration in open oak vats, the free-run juice is drawn off and allowed to begin fermentation spontaneously.

Following the maceration stage, fermentation and maturation take place in temperature-controlled enameled vats. Oak is therefore used principally during skin contact rather than as a source of barrel flavor during the wine’s maturation.

Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve the natural freshness and acidity of the ripe Pinot Noir fruit. This gives the finished Champagne enough energy and tension to balance its considerable body and concentration.

The wine remains on its fine lees before bottling and then spends approximately 42 to 48 months aging on the lees in Champagne Geoffroy’s cellars. This extended maturation contributes a creamy mousse and subtle notes of brioche, bread crust and toasted nuts.

The wine is neither fined nor filtered, preserving its texture, aromatic complexity and natural expression.

Dosage

The producer and current importer specifications list a dosage of approximately 6 grams per liter, placing the Champagne within the Extra Brut range despite some commercial listings calling it Brut.

The Wine Advocate review covers a specific base-2019 bottle disgorged in September 2024 with a dosage of 4 grams per liter. Dosage can vary slightly between disgorgement lots, so the exact back-label information should be followed for an individual bottle.

Tasting Notes

The wine displays an intense ruby, copper and deep-rose color with a persistent stream of fine bubbles.

The bouquet is immediately expressive, offering wild strawberry, raspberry, red currant, blackberry and ripe cherry. With air, notes of pomegranate, blood orange, grapefruit zest, watermelon and dried apple emerge alongside rose petals, hibiscus, violets and gentle savory spice.

The palate is medium- to full-bodied, rich and broad-shouldered, with the texture and concentration of a light red Burgundy carried by a lively Champagne mousse. Ripe red and dark fruit are balanced by vibrant acidity, subtle chalk and finely structured phenolics.

Hints of clove, toasted bread, brioche and nuts appear toward the finish. The Champagne remains focused despite its richness, concluding with excellent length, perfumed red fruit and an appetizing touch of bitterness.

This is a distinctive, gastronomic rosé Champagne with far more depth and structure than a conventional aperitif-style rosé.

Professional Ratings

95 Points — James Suckling: "An enticing rosé champagne that™s more like a red with bubbles. Bronze with a red hue. Aromas of watermelon, jasmine and hibiscus. Medium- to full-bodied with a lovely consistency of fruit and a focused, polished palate with dried apples and pomegranate. Cantaloupe and some brioche in the aftertaste. 2019 vintage. Pure pinot noir. Drink now."

94 Point - Vinous: "The NV Brut Rose de Saignée (100% Premier Cru Pinot Noir from the 2018 vintage) is fabulous and a great example of this style. A burst of dark red cherry, lavender, spice, blood orange and pomegranate races across the palate. This release screams with Pinot character, marrying depth with notable finesse along the way. I loved it. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: June, 2023."

92 Points — Wine Advocate: "From the 2019 vintage and disgorged in September 2024 with a dosage of four grams per liter, the latest rendition of Geoffroy™s NV Rose de Saignee Cumieres Premier Cru"as always"derives exclusively from Cumieres. The only stage at which this cuvee encounters oak is during its 70 to 80 hours of maceration in open vats. Thereafter, it matures in enameled vats with very little in the way of solids, and this provides a point of distinction from many other saignee-style roses in Champagne. It leaps from the glass with an expressive bouquet of grapefruit zest, blood orange and redcurrant mingling with nuances of red flowers and clove. On the palate, it is full-bodied, rich and broad-shouldered"intense and textural"with ripe yet vibrant acidity, culminating in a long, perfumed finish, where subtly bitter phenolics assert themselves. This is not a wine suited for casual aperitifs; rather, it is best savored alongside hearty fare such as red meats or tuna tartare, where its depth can be fully appreciated."

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vines in Cumières since the 17th century. Estate bottling began during the early 1950s, when Roger and Julienne Geoffroy produced the family’s first Champagne under their own name.

René Geoffroy expanded the family’s vineyard holdings and established its reputation as an independent grower-producer. Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy joined the domaine during the late 1980s and now leads the estate with his wife, Karine.

In 2008, the family transferred its winemaking and commercial operations to a historic property in Aÿ, while retaining its deep vineyard roots in Cumières. The estate now farms approximately 14 hectares in Cumières, Hautvillers, Damery and Fleury-la-Rivière.

The Geoffroy style emphasizes ripe fruit, careful parcel selection, minimal handling and the preservation of natural acidity. Malolactic fermentation is generally avoided, and the Champagnes receive extended cellar aging before release.

Food Pairing

This is an exceptionally food-friendly rosé Champagne. Its body and red-fruit intensity make it an excellent partner for tuna tartare, seared tuna, salmon, lobster, crawfish and pan-seared scallops.

It is equally successful with roast duck breast, duck with cherries or peaches, pork tenderloin, veal, charcuterie and lightly grilled red meats. Its fruit and acidity can also complement dishes incorporating pomegranate, blood orange or red-berry sauces.

For cheese, consider aged Comté, Gruyère, Époisses or other flavorful washed-rind cheeses. The producer also recommends pairing it with a dessert of peach soup and fresh strawberries.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a generous tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. A wider bowl will allow the wine’s Pinot Noir fruit, floral aromas and vinous complexity to develop.

The Champagne is ready to drink now, but its concentration, acidity and extended lees aging should allow it to develop additional savory and brioche complexity over several years.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Rosé de Saignée
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Rosé de Saignée Champagne
Base Vintage: 2019
Vintage Composition: 100% 2019 harvest
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Vine Age: Approximately 30–40 years
Soils: Clay, sandstone and limestone over deep chalk
Farming: Practicing organic and sustainable
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Maceration: Approximately 70–80 hours in open oak vats
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation in enameled vats
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Lees Aging: Approximately 42–48 months
Dosage: Approximately 6 g/L; some disgorgement lots may vary
Fining and Filtration: Neither fined nor filtered
Alcohol: Approximately 12–12.5%
Bottle Size: 750ml

Geoffroy Rosé de Saignée Premier Cru Brut Champagne — Base 2019

92 Points — Wine Spectator
91 Points — Vinous

Pinot Noir from the heart of Aÿ. Henri Goutorbe's Cuvée Prestige is the signature non-vintage Brut of one of the Vallée de la Marne's most respected family estates — a grower Champagne built around the richness, depth and vinous character that Aÿ Premier Cru Pinot Noir delivers better than almost anywhere else in Champagne. Rich yet lively, layered with vanilla, pastry cream, brioche, blackberry and blood orange zest, it is an excellent introduction to the Goutorbe house style: fruit-forward, structured and generous, with enough acidity to keep the wine elegant and fresh.

The Place

Henri Goutorbe is based in Aÿ, one of Champagne's most celebrated Premier Cru villages and the historic heartland of Pinot Noir in the Vallée de la Marne. Aÿ's south-facing slopes, deep chalk soils and warm mesoclimate allow Pinot Noir to achieve exceptional ripeness and concentration, producing wines with body, ripe red fruit and a distinctly vinous character that sets them apart from the lighter, more delicate styles of the Montagne de Reims or Côte des Blancs.

The Goutorbe family has farmed vines in Aÿ for generations, and the estate's identity is inseparable from the village. Their vineyards are planted predominantly on the chalk-rich slopes that give Aÿ Champagne its characteristic combination of richness and mineral freshness.

The Blend

Cuvée Prestige is led by approximately 70% Pinot Noir, with 25% Chardonnay and a small proportion of Pinot Meunier. Pinot Noir contributes body, ripe red and dark fruit, and the vinous depth that defines the Goutorbe style. Chardonnay brings freshness, lift and precision. Meunier adds aromatic charm and suppleness to the blend.

The assemblage draws on reserve wines from multiple vintages, giving Cuvée Prestige consistency and complexity beyond what a single harvest could provide.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Vinification follows traditional Champagne methods, with fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks and extended lees aging in bottle to develop the wine's creamy mousse and subtle notes of brioche, pastry and toasted almond.

The dosage is calibrated to complement the wine's natural fruit and acidity without masking its character — keeping Cuvée Prestige firmly in the Brut category while preserving the generosity and approachability that define it.

Tasting Notes

The wine opens with aromas of ripe pear, red apple, blackberry and citrus, followed by notes of toasted brioche, pastry cream, honey, roasted almond and subtle spice. The palate is broad and creamy, supported by a fine, persistent mousse and bright acidity. Flavors of orchard fruit, blood orange, salted nuts and warm toast lead into a balanced, harmonious finish.

Wine Spectator describes it as rich yet lively, with layered notes of vanilla, pastry cream and brioche joined by blackberry, salted almond and blood orange zest, carried through a harmonious finish by fine acidity and texture.

Professional Ratings

92 Points — Wine Spectator: Rich yet lively, with layered notes of vanilla, pastry cream and brioche, joined by blackberry, salted almond and blood orange zest. Fine acidity and texture carry the wine through a harmonious finish.

91 Points — Vinous: A Pinot Noir-driven Champagne with generous fruit, attractive richness and the structure typical of the estate's home village of Aÿ.

The Producer

Henri Goutorbe is a historic family grower-producer based in Aÿ, one of Champagne's most prestigious Premier Cru villages. The estate has farmed its own vineyards for generations and produces a range of Champagnes that reflect the depth, richness and mineral character of Aÿ terroir. The Goutorbe style is built around ripe Pinot Noir, careful vineyard work and traditional winemaking — producing Champagnes that are expressive, structured and age-worthy.

Food Pairing

Cuvée Prestige is an excellent aperitif and a versatile food Champagne. Serve with oysters, smoked salmon, shellfish, roast chicken, creamy pasta, mushroom risotto, soft cheeses or lightly seasoned pork. Its body and red-fruit character also make it a natural partner for charcuterie and poultry dishes with cream or mushroom sauces.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve well chilled at approximately 46–50°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. Ready to drink now and will continue to develop over the next three to five years.

Producer: Henri Goutorbe
Cuvée: Cuvée Prestige
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Aÿ Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Non-Vintage Brut Champagne
Blend: Approximately 70% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Meunier
Farming: Family estate vineyards
Harvest: Hand harvested
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

94 Points — Vinous

The prestige bottling. The finest vintage. The most celebrated designation in grower Champagne. Henri Goutorbe's 2015 Cuvée Special Club is the house at its most refined and expressive — a Pinot Noir-driven vintage Champagne from Aÿ Grand Cru, produced under the Special Club designation reserved for top members of the Club Trésors de Champagne. Disgorged October 2024 after nearly a decade in the cellar, it captures both the personality of the generous 2015 vintage and the pedigree of one of Champagne's most celebrated villages.

The Special Club Designation

The Club Trésors de Champagne is an association of elite grower-producers committed to expressing individual terroir and village character. Members may only release a Special Club bottling in years they deem exceptional, and each wine must pass a blind tasting panel before it can carry the designation. The distinctive embossed bottle is a guarantee of quality, provenance and the producer's highest ambitions for that vintage.

The Place: Aÿ Grand Cru

Henri Goutorbe is based in Aÿ, one of Champagne's 17 Grand Cru villages and the historic heartland of Pinot Noir in the Vallée de la Marne. Aÿ's south-facing slopes, deep chalk soils and warm mesoclimate allow Pinot Noir to achieve exceptional ripeness and concentration, producing wines with body, ripe red and dark fruit, and a distinctly vinous character. The village's chalk-rich geology preserves freshness and mineral tension, preventing the wines from becoming heavy or overripe.

The Blend

The 2015 Special Club is composed of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, sourced from the estate's finest Grand Cru parcels in Aÿ. Pinot Noir provides the wine's structure, depth and ripe red-fruit character; Chardonnay contributes freshness, lift and the mineral precision that gives the wine its elegant, long-lived profile.

The 2015 Vintage

The warm, generous 2015 growing season produced concentrated, expressive fruit throughout Champagne. In Aÿ, Pinot Noir achieved excellent ripeness while retaining the acidity and structure necessary for extended aging. The vintage delivered the depth and personality required for a Special Club bottling — a wine designed to reward patience and develop complexity over many years in the cellar.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Vinification follows traditional methods, with fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks and extended aging on the lees in bottle. The wine was disgorged in October 2024 — nearly a decade after the harvest — allowing it to develop the layered complexity, refined mousse and subtle oxidative depth that define a mature prestige Champagne.

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Special Club opens with layered aromas of kirsch, cinnamon, dried flowers, ginger, citrus confit and marzipan. With air, notes of ripe orchard fruit, baked apple, toasted brioche, roasted nuts and subtle pastry cream emerge, underscored by delicate mineral tension.

The palate is broad and vinous yet precise, with fine mousse, impressive concentration and a long, elegant finish marked by pear, lemon curd, spice and chalky tension. Vinous describes the finish as deceptively long and understated — a thing of beauty — and notes that the wine has been gently shaped by the passage of time in a way that reveals the essence of Aÿ in a ten-year-old Champagne.

Professional Ratings

94 Points — Vinous (December 2025): The 2015 Special Club is a very pretty, expressive wine that captures the essence of Aÿ in a ten-year-old Champagne. Kirsch, cinnamon, dried flowers, ginger, citrus confit and marzipan all caress the palate. Readers looking for a Champagne that has been gently shaped by the passage of time will find that here. The deceptively long, understated finish is a thing of beauty. This is one of the finest Champagnes I have tasted from Goutorbe in some time. Disgorged October 2024.

The Producer

Henri Goutorbe is a historic family grower-producer based in Aÿ Grand Cru. The estate has farmed its own vineyards for generations and produces a range of Champagnes that reflect the depth, richness and mineral character of Aÿ terroir. The Goutorbe style is built around ripe Pinot Noir, careful vineyard work and traditional winemaking — producing Champagnes that are expressive, structured and age-worthy.

Food Pairing

Rich enough to enjoy on its own, the Special Club pairs beautifully with lobster, scallops, roast chicken, truffle dishes, foie gras, creamy cheeses and elegant seafood preparations. Its depth and Pinot Noir structure also make it an excellent partner for duck, veal and mushroom-based dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 50–54°F in a generous tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. Already showing beautifully, the 2015 has the structure and concentration to develop additional complexity through the early 2030s.

Producer: Henri Goutorbe
Cuvée: Cuvée Special Club
Vintage: 2015
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Aÿ Grand Cru
Classification: Grand Cru
Style: Vintage Brut Champagne
Blend: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
Disgorgement: October 2024
Harvest: Hand harvested
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Hervé Rafflin La Nature'L Premier Cru Extra Brut — Montagne de Reims, Champagne

Hervé Rafflin took over his family's small estate in 2001, though the family's roots in Champagne stretch back to the 1840s. Farming 5 hectares across four premier cru villages — Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes, Rilly-la-Montagne, and Taissy — in the heart of the Montagne de Reims, Rafflin is the definition of grower Champagne: small production (no more than 9,000 bottles of this cuvée), certified organic as of 2021, and guided by the philosophy that nature dictates business, not demand. La Nature'L is the estate's flagship and most widely produced bottling — and it's easy to understand why.

The blend is 38% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay, and 26% Pinot Meunier, drawn from 30–40 year old vines on ancient limestone, marl, and chalk soils. Aged 8 months in stainless steel with malolactic fermentation and dosed at just 1.8 g/L, this is Extra Brut in the truest sense. The nose is vivacious and pure — citrus, white flowers, and a subtle touch of baked bread. On the palate, bright salivating acidity drives through to a long, clean, refreshing finish. Unpretentious, delicious, and always reflective of the growing season.

"Delicious, unpretentious, and always reflective of the growing season and the unique terroir of the Montagne de Reims. At Rafflin, nature dictates business, not demand." — Hervé Rafflin

• Producer: Hervé Rafflin, Chigny-les-Roses, Montagne de Reims, Champagne
• Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
• Blend: 38% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay, 26% Pinot Meunier
• Dosage: 1.8 g/L (Extra Brut)
• Farming: Certified Organic (as of 2021)
• Aging: 8 months in stainless steel; malolactic fermentation
• Production: ~9,000 bottles
• ABV: 12.5%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Citrus, white flowers, baked bread, bright acidity, long clean finish
• Best Paired With: Fresh cheeses, oysters, raw bar, buttered popcorn, light seafood

A grower Champagne of rare integrity — certified organic, tiny production, and priced well below its quality level. One of the most honest bottles of Champagne you'll find.

Jules Lassalle established this family-owned Champagne house in 1942 in the village of Chigny-Les-Roses on the Montagne de Reims. His daughter and granddaughter, Chantal and Angéline, now run the domaine, following the same strictly-traditional standards Jules established. They use the same wooden basket press he installed in the winery over fifty years ago, pressing and vinifying the individual plots separately. It is one of the rare Champagnes that has been allowed to finish its malolactic fermentation, just like the great whites from the Côte d’Or. Every bottle is riddled by hand, and all cuvées are aged extensively once in bottle. This traditional blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir is best for luxuriant dishes, like lobster bisque baked en croûte.

The Cuvée

This grower Champagne's bottling embodies Lassalle's signature, bold-yet-finessed house style par excellence. The "Cuvée Préférence" is a subtle evocation of the senses, a constantly renewing enchantment of magical bubbles. A traditional blend of 60% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, the grapes come from 50-year-old vines planted in clay and limestone in over 13 premier cru hectares and farmed organically.

Expert Rating

“With an emphasis on pinot meunier (close to 60 percent), this wine shows the richness of its long aging on the lees in toasty notes and creamy textures. Its fresh cider-apple fruit lasts, brightening the wine’s line of chalky acidity to focus on a creamy chicken vol-au-vent.  91 points, Wine & Spirits (Dec 2020)

Technical Notes

• Aged 48 months on the lees before disgorgement
• Current disgorgement: Stamped on bottle
• Vintages in the current disgorgement: 2018, 2017
• Aged for a minimum of 4 months after blending in enamel lined tanks before bottling
• Dosage: 8g/L

Details

• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Region: Champagne, France
• Grapes: Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
• Type: Champagne

J. Vignier Aux Origines Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (2017 Base)

“Aux Origines” — where it all began — is a deeply personal Champagne that honors the roots of the Vignier family’s winemaking history. Produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in Les Simarts, the first vineyards planted by Nathalie Vignier’s grandparents, Marie-Louise and Paul, in the village of Barbonne-Fayel during the 1960s, this is a wine of place, memory, and exceptional craft. The Côte de Sézanne’s clay and sandy soils over chalk yield generous, expressive Chardonnay with both ripe fruit character and the chalky minerality that defines great Champagne. Fermented in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation, rested seven months on fine lees, then aged a minimum of 36 months in bottle before disgorgement — the result is a Blanc de Blancs of remarkable depth, texture, and elegance.

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Aux Origines
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Region: Côte de Sézanne, Champagne, France
• Vineyard: Les Simarts, Barbonne-Fayel
• Base Vintage: 2017
• Size: 750ml
• Farming: Certified Sustainable (Socofret)
• Vinification: Stainless steel; full malolactic fermentation; 7 months on fine lees; 36+ months bottle aging
• Alcohol: 12.5%

Pairs beautifully with oysters, caviar, shellfish, sushi, delicate white fish, soft cheeses, or light poultry. Serve well chilled.

J. Vignier Deux Terres Blanc de Blancs Brut — Cramant & Côte de Sézanne 2010

Deux Terres — “Two Lands” — is J. Vignier’s most geographically ambitious cuvée, drawing 100% Chardonnay from two distinct and contrasting terroirs: Le Bateau in the Grand Cru village of Cramant on the Côte des Blancs, and Les Bercottes in Barbonne-Fayel on the Côte de Sézanne. The connection between the two sites runs deeper than geography — the Sézanne vines were planted by massal selection using cuttings from the family’s oldest Cramant vineyards, creating a living lineage between the two parcels. The vines are 50 to 60 years old, rooted in Cretaceous chalk, marl, and clay. Vinified in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation and aged a minimum of eight years en tirage, the 2010 vintage — one of Champagne’s finest of the decade — emerges with extraordinary depth, integration, and a long, dry finish. Certified sustainable by Socofret.

Elegant and finely structured: citrus, orchard fruit, toasted brioche, almond, and subtle pastry notes on the nose, deepening with air into mature Champagne complexity. The palate is rich yet focused — Cramant’s chalky precision and Sézanne’s generous, expressive fruit resolved into a wine of remarkable harmony. Eight-plus years on the lees have built a creamy mousse and seamless texture, while the naturally bright acidity keeps everything energetic and long on the finish.

“Deux Terres is a study in complementary opposites — Cramant’s mineral precision and Sézanne’s generous fruit, united by 50-year-old vines and eight years of patience.”

• Producer: J. Vignier, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2010
• Appellation: Champagne
• Vineyards: Le Bateau, Cramant (Grand Cru) & Les Bercottes, Barbonne-Fayel (Côte de Sézanne)
• Vine Age: 50–60 years
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs Brut
• Soil: Cretaceous chalk, marl and clay
• Farming: Certified Sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel; full malolactic fermentation
• Lees Aging: Minimum 8 years en tirage
• Residual Sugar: 2.8 g/L | Acidity: 4.8 g/L | Alcohol: 11.8%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Citrus, orchard fruit, brioche, almond, pastry, creamy mousse, chalky minerality, long dry finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, caviar, lobster, scallops, roasted fish, creamy poultry, mushroom risotto, aged cheeses

2010 vintage. 8+ years on the lees. Two terroirs, one lineage. J. Vignier’s Deux Terres is among the most compelling aged Blanc de Blancs Champagnes available today.