Labor Day Sale - Champagne & Sparkling!

Varieties

Winemaking

Winemaker Description

Compelling and fresh, this wine is redolent of grapefruit and red berries

One would be hard-pressed to find anyone as devoted to the concepts of ‘sustainable’ and ‘local’ as Thierry and Céline Tissot. Their vision is of a sustainable ecological future with a thriving local economy to pass on to their two children. All one has to do is admire the privileged vineyards the Tissots farm along the steep mountainsides surrounding their village of Vaux-en-Bugey. Here, Thierry has committed to replanting with traditional local varieties, namely altesse and mondeuse.

Meanwhile, Céline has implemented her experience as an agriculture engineer and enologist, employing strictly sustainable agriculture, with a particular focus on insect diversity. Their efforts earned organic certification in 2019. Their vineyards are surrounded by sub-alpine forests brimming with  biodiversity—birds’ nests, foxes, ladybugs, spiders—which Céline loves to share on social media as they work the vines with their dog Maya. The Tissot vineyards had never seen any herbicides, having been abandoned to the forest before the introduction of chemical treatments. The couple have steadfastly carried on this legacy with respect and dedication to their principles.

This méthode traditionelle sparkling wine is made with organically-farmed, estate gamay and mondeuse. As an Extra-Dry, it has an exceptional balance that will play well at the beginning and end of the meal (or throughout your picnic!). Céline and Thierry Tissot are showing that top quality méthode traditionelle sparklers can be made in Bugey, transmitting a clear and unique Bugey identity. The Tissots have been pushing the envelope with the development of their traditional method sparkling wines with a long lees-aging regimen.

Winemaker Description

Onion skin color wine with very fine and persistent bubbles. Flavors of red fruits, bread and spices. An elegant and refreshing wine.

Winemaker Description

Fruity and fragrant, palatable, fine and elegant in the mouth with a direct and clear flavour and a good persistence. Wild Nature wines, symbolise the outmost care and respect for the soil, terroir and the environment where these wines come from. Pioneers in organic farming since 1974, each Wild Nature bottle's label is dedicated to the wildlife inhabiting their estates, located in Venice and Verona provinces, to further stress their effort to maintain a balance ecosystem and respect for plants and wildlife.

Prosecco Col Fondo is characterized by the deposit of the yeasts on the bottom: it is made according to the 'Ancestrale' method, which was used since ancient times, of second fermentation in the bottle without disgorgement. What is obtained is a dry, fruity and refreshing wine. The prolonged contact with the yeast confers a sapid and decisive finish and well-balanced flavors, with bread crust, green apple and white peach aromas.

Perfect as an aperitif wine, it works well also alongside the main entrée.

Argyle Winery | Vintage Brut | Willamette Valley | 2022

Oregon is not the first place most people think of for serious sparkling wine — but it should be. Argyle has been making the case since 1987, and the Willamette Valley’s cool, maritime-influenced climate turns out to be near-ideal for the traditional method: long growing seasons, natural acidity, and Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that ripen slowly and retain the tension that great sparkling wine demands. The 2022 Vintage Brut draws heavily on fruit from the legendary Knudsen Vineyard, one of the oldest and most respected sites in the valley, which contributes natural weight, brightness, and a distinctive character that sets this wine apart from its non-vintage counterparts. Golden apple and Anjou pear lead the nose, layered with vanilla and toasted cake crust — opulent without being heavy. On the palate, apple, cherry blossom, and spiced cinnamon flavors linger at length, carried by a foamy mousse and vivid acidity. A classic modern vintage from one of America’s most important sparkling wine producers.

• Appellation: Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Blend: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
• Method: Traditional method (Méthode Classique)
• Key Vineyard: Knudsen Vineyard
• Dosage: Brut
• Vintage: 2022
• Format: 750ml
• Farming: Sustainable

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2022

Wine Spectator | 90 Points: Appealing for its easygoing flavors of apple, cherry blossoms and spiced cinnamon that linger at length.

Pairing Suggestions

• Celebration: A versatile aperitif for any occasion that calls for bubbles.
• Seafood: Oysters, Dungeness crab, grilled salmon, or smoked fish.
• Casual: Fried chicken, soft cheeses, charcuterie, or brunch dishes.

Winemaker Description

This exquisite blend of grapes, stemming from four different harvests, showcases its strong personality through a symphony of fruits and a full-bodied, elegant presence. Singular in its expression of terroir, a revelation of the variety that nature offers from one year to the next.

Réserve Rosé evokes romance and harmony. The initial nose reveals fresh red fruits with a touch of brioche. The first sensation is reminiscent of biting into a perfectly ripe Morello cherry, bursting with full and mature aromas. Powerful, yet remarkably subtle with an extraordinarily long-lasting finish.

The NV (2018) Brut Rosé Henriette is a blend of 90% Chardonnay from old vines in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and 10% Pinot Noir from the south-facing slopes of Bouzy.

Vinous describes this release as a powerful, savory and serious Rosé Champagne, with complex notes of dried cherry, chalk, dried herbs and white pepper.

93 Points — Vinous Media The NV (2018) Brut Rosé Henriette is a blend of 90% Chardonnay from old vines in Mesnil with 10% Pinot Noir from the south-facing slopes of Bouzy, a pretty intriguing combination. Powerful and quite savory, the Henriette is very much a serious Rosé for the dinner table. Dried cherry, chalk, dried herbs and white pepper lend notable complexity throughout. This is a terrific showing for Moncuit's Rosé, the best I can remember tasting. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged: March 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year.

Pierre Moncuit Henriette Brut Rosé Grand Cru (Base 2018)

Pierre Moncuit Henriette Brut Rosé Grand Cru is an elegant and distinctive Grower Champagne from one of the historic family estates of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Unlike the domaine's Blanc de Blancs bottlings, Henriette introduces Pinot Noir into the blend, bringing red-fruit character, additional structure and a more vinous personality while retaining the freshness and mineral precision that define the Pierre Moncuit style.

This release is based entirely on the 2018 harvest. Chardonnay from the Grand Cru vineyards of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger forms the core of the wine, complemented by Grand Cru Pinot Noir. The result is a beautifully balanced Rosé Champagne that combines Côte des Blancs finesse with the depth and savory character of Pinot Noir.

The wine is vinified in stainless steel, in keeping with Pierre Moncuit's philosophy of preserving freshness, purity of fruit and a clear expression of terroir. The finished Champagne carries a dosage of approximately 8 grams per liter, giving it a harmonious Brut profile while maintaining excellent freshness and definition.

In the glass, Henriette shows an attractive rosé hue and a fine, persistent mousse. Aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry and raspberry are joined by suggestions of citrus peel, dried flowers, chalk and subtle spice. The palate is lively yet substantial, with bright red fruit framed by crisp acidity, mineral tension and a gently creamy texture.

This is a Rosé Champagne with enough depth and structure for the dinner table while remaining elegant enough to serve as an aperitif. Its combination of fruit, freshness and savory complexity makes it particularly versatile with food.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Pierre Moncuit
• Cuvée: Henriette
• Style: Brut Rosé Grand Cru Champagne
• Base Vintage: 2018
• Country: France
• Region: Champagne
• Primary Village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Grapes: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
• Dosage: Approximately 8 g/L
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Tasting Notes

Expressive aromas of red cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry mingle with delicate floral notes, citrus, chalk and spice. The palate is fresh and energetic, with fine bubbles, attractive fruit concentration and a mineral backbone. Subtle savory notes add complexity through the long, balanced finish.

Food Pairing

A particularly food-friendly Rosé Champagne, Henriette is excellent with salmon, tuna, lobster, shrimp, sushi, duck, charcuterie and roast poultry. It also pairs beautifully with creamy cheeses and dishes featuring mushrooms or gently savory sauces.

About Champagne Pierre Moncuit

Champagne Pierre Moncuit is a family-run Grower Champagne estate based in the celebrated Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs. The Moncuit family has cultivated vines in the village since the late nineteenth century, developing a particular expertise with Chardonnay and the chalk-rich soils of Le Mesnil.

A distinctive feature of the domaine is its approach to non-vintage Champagne: rather than blending multiple harvests and reserve wines, Pierre Moncuit's NV cuvées are produced from a single harvest. This allows each release to express not only its vineyard origins but also the individual character of its growing season.

Henriette Brut Rosé Grand Cru offers a fascinating counterpoint to the domaine's celebrated Blanc de Blancs wines, combining the precision and mineral character of Le Mesnil Chardonnay with the richness and red-fruit expression of Pinot Noir.

Pierre Moncuit Delos Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is a refined, mineral-driven Grower Champagne produced entirely from 100% Chardonnay grown in the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the most celebrated Chardonnay terroirs in Champagne's Côte des Blancs.

Delos is one of the signature cuvées of the family-run Pierre Moncuit estate and offers a classic expression of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger: elegant, precise and beautifully structured, with the chalky mineral character for which this Grand Cru village is renowned.

Although labeled non-vintage, this release is based on the 2021 harvest. Pierre Moncuit favors vinification and aging in stainless steel, allowing the purity of the Chardonnay and its terroir to remain at the forefront. The Brut Delos is finished with a dosage of 7 grams per liter, giving the wine a slightly rounder and more generous profile than the estate's Extra Brut version while retaining freshness and tension.

The Base 2021 release offers an inviting combination of white flowers, orchard fruit, pastry, spice and mint. The palate balances bright acidity with a softer, more generous texture, leading to an elegant, persistent finish. A beautifully versatile Champagne for both aperitif drinking and the dinner table.

Pair with oysters, shellfish, sushi, grilled fish, lobster, roast chicken, creamy cheeses — or simply enjoy on its own as an elegant aperitif.

Wine Details

• Producer: Pierre Moncuit
• Cuvée: Delos
• Style: Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
• Base Vintage: 2021
• Country: France
• Region: Champagne
• Subregion: Côte des Blancs
• Village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Dosage: 7 g/L
• Disgorgement: May 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year
• Drinking Window: 2025–2031

About Pierre Moncuit

Based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne Pierre Moncuit is a historic family estate particularly renowned for its Chardonnay-based Champagnes. The name Delos comes from the maiden name of Nicole and Yves Moncuit's mother. The cuvée is produced in both Brut and Extra Brut versions and stands as one of the domaine's principal Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs expressions.

Press Notes

91 pts — Vinous Media: "The NV (2021) Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Delos Grand Cru is attractive, although a touch svelte in this release. Brisk acids cut through a core of citrus fruit, while floral and chalky notes lift the mid-palate and finish." Dosage: 3 g/L. Disgorged: February 2025.

Why We Like It

Delos is an excellent introduction to the distinctive Chardonnay of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The Brut bottling combines the village's naturally racy, mineral personality with just enough dosage to give the wine additional texture and accessibility — refined enough for a special occasion, versatile enough for the whole meal.

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

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 | 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 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.

R. Pouillon & Fils | Les Châtaigniers | Extra-Brut | Festigny, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne | 2019 | Organic

R. Pouillon & Fils is one of Champagne's most exciting and principled grower-producers, based in the Premier Cru village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Vallée de la Marne. Fabrice Pouillon farms his vineyards with rigorous organic principles and a deep commitment to expressing the individual character of each parcel — producing wines of exceptional purity, vitality, and terroir transparency.

Les Châtaigniers is a distinctive single-vineyard Champagne from the village of Festigny, situated on the left bank of the Marne Valley in the Vallée du Flagot. The parcel's calcareous clay soils create an especially expressive terroir for Pinot Meunier — a grape that is often underestimated in Champagne but capable of extraordinary depth, structure, and refinement in the right hands and the right site. The clay-rich soils encourage generosity and texture, while the calcareous component contributes freshness, precision, and a firm mineral backbone.

The fruit is harvested by hand and vinified in oak casks ranging from new barrels to vessels up to ten years old, then rested for approximately 18 months in neutral barriques before bottling. Full malolactic fermentation adds roundness and creaminess. Beginning with the 2019 vintage, Pouillon extended his innovative Méthode Fabrice Pouillon to all estate Champagnes — using naturally sweet grape juice from the domaine for the secondary fermentation and dosage rather than externally sourced sugar, preserving a more direct connection between the finished Champagne, its fruit, and its vineyard of origin.

Broad, vinous, and deeply expressive. Aromas of golden apple, quince, ripe pear, and subtle red fruit joined by floral, herbal, and gently savory notes, with hints of flint, warm spice, toasted grain, and earthy minerality. On the palate, the natural roundness of Pinot Meunier is balanced by vibrant acidity and a fine, persistent mousse. Generous fruit and supple texture are anchored by mineral tension, giving the wine both richness and energy. The finish is long, dry, and layered — lingering orchard fruit, chalk, spice, and a delicate reductive character. A gastronomic Champagne with the depth and structure to accompany an entire meal.

Pair with roasted poultry, pork, veal, creamy mushroom dishes, fried seafood, richer fish preparations, washed-rind cheeses, and aged Comté.

• Producer: R. Pouillon & Fils
• Cuvée: Les Châtaigniers
• Style: Extra-Brut
• Appellation: Festigny, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Grape: Pinot Meunier (100%)
• Vintage: 2019
• Farming: Organic
• Soils: Calcareous clay (Vallée du Flagot)
• Vinification: Oak casks (new to 10 years old); Méthode Fabrice Pouillon
• Élevage: ~18 months in neutral barriques; full malolactic fermentation
• Dosage: Extra-Brut (estate grape juice)
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2019

• WineLens — 95 pts: Complex and distinctive — apple, quince, herbal and floral notes with touches of flint and gentle reduction. Medium to full-bodied with excellent freshness and acidity, beautiful roundness, impressive dimension, and a long finish.

R. Pouillon & Fils | Rosé de Macération | Premier Cru Rosé Brut | Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne | 2021 Base | Biodynamic

R. Pouillon & Fils is one of Champagne's most exciting and principled grower-producers, based in the Premier Cru village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Vallée de la Marne. Fabrice Pouillon farms his vineyards according to biodynamic principles — a commitment to the land that goes beyond organic certification, working in harmony with natural cycles to produce wines of exceptional purity, vitality, and terroir expression.

The Rosé de Macération is a deeply individual and highly distinctive rosé Champagne made entirely from Pinot Noir grown on clay-limestone soils in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Rather than producing the rosé by blending white Champagne with still red wine — the conventional method — Fabrice allows the freshly pressed juice to remain in contact with the grape skins for up to 12 hours. This short maceration extracts color, aroma, and gentle tannin while preserving the freshness and precision essential to Champagne, giving the wine its distinctive pale ruby color, structure, and expressive red-fruit character.

Fermentation takes place in a combination of traditional enameled tanks and neutral oak barrels. Approximately 80% of the wine is élevaged for eight months, while the remaining 20% is aged for 18 months in neutral oak. The current year's wine is then blended with the longer-aged portion retained from the previous harvest — a thoughtful assemblage that balances the natural tannic structure of a macerated rosé with the softness, complexity, and mellow texture developed through extended aging.

The 2021-base Rosé de Macération is pale ruby-red in the glass. The bouquet is intensely flinty with generous aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, red cherry, citrus peel, dried flowers, spice, and subtle brioche. On the palate, structured and energetic — ripe red-fruit flavors with bright mineral acidity and an emphatic, persistent mousse. Impressive concentration without heaviness, with a distinctly dry, clean, precise, and refreshing finish. A gastronomic rosé Champagne with the depth and structure to accompany an entire meal.

Pair with duck, roast poultry, pork, grilled salmon, tuna, mushroom dishes, charcuterie, washed-rind cheeses, and aged Comté.

• Producer: R. Pouillon & Fils
• Cuvée: Rosé de Macération
• Classification: Premier Cru Rosé Brut
• Appellation: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Grape: Pinot Noir (100%)
• Base Vintage: 2021
• Farming: Biodynamic
• Soils: Clay-limestone
• Rosé Method: Skin maceration up to 12 hours
• Vinification: Enameled tanks & neutral oak; 80% élevaged 8 months, 20% aged 18 months in neutral oak
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim

• James Suckling — 92 pts: Intensely flinty bouquet with generous raspberry fruit. Structured, dry, and powerful — bright mineral acidity and a pronounced mousse, finishing exceptionally clean and precise.

A distinctive, terroir-driven rosé Champagne from Pascal Doquet, one of the Côte des Blancs’ leading organic grower-producers. Anthocyanes is crafted from equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, all harvested in 2018, combining the mineral precision of the Côte des Blancs with the structure and expressive red-fruit character of Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir comes from La Barre, a named vineyard site in Vertus. It is macerated on the skins for approximately 48 hours before pressing, extracting its vivid color and aromatic intensity through the traditional saignée method. The wine is then matured in barrel for up to one year before being blended with Chardonnay from Vertus and bottled for its secondary fermentation.

The name Anthocyanes refers to anthocyanins, the natural pigments found in grape skins that give the Champagne its striking rosé color. Despite its depth of color and character, this is not a heavy or overtly vinous rosé. It retains the freshness, finesse and mineral energy associated with Pascal Doquet’s Champagnes.

Pale to medium salmon-pink in the glass, it opens with aromas of sliced strawberries, red berries, citrus peel and rose petals, followed by delicate notes of honey, spice and chalk. The palate is lively and finely textured, with elegant bubbles, bright acidity and a balanced combination of ripe red fruit, citrus freshness and savory mineral character. The finish is dry, energetic and persistent.

This expressive rosé Champagne is excellent as an aperitif but also has enough structure for the table. Pair it with salmon, tuna tartare, sushi, shellfish, roast poultry, charcuterie, mushroom dishes, creamy cheeses or aged goat cheese.

Grapes: 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir
Region: Champagne, France
Village: Vertus
Classification: Premier Cru
Pinot Noir Vineyard: La Barre
Base Vintage: 2018
Farming: Certified organic
Production: Rosé de saignée
Maceration: Approximately 48 hours
Maturation: Pinot Noir aged in barrel for up to one year
Style: Rosé Premier Cru Brut
Bottle Size: 750ml
Alcohol: Approximately 12.5%

Highly Rated

90 Points — The Wine Advocate
90 Points — James Suckling

Pascal Doquet Arpège Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature — Côte des Blancs 2019 Base

Pascal Doquet is one of the leading organic growers of the Côte des Blancs, farming his vineyards in Vertus, Villeneuve, and Mont Aimé with certified organic practices and a deep commitment to terroir transparency. The Arpège is his entry-point Blanc de Blancs — 100% Chardonnay from parcels not selected for his limited-production Coeur de Terroir bottlings — yet it is anything but secondary. The chalk and flinty silex soils of Mont Aimé give the wine its distinctive mineral structure and smoky depth, while a substantial proportion of reserve wine held in enamel tanks adds complexity and consistency. Finished with zero dosage, the Brut Nature designation allows the Chardonnay and its vineyard origins to speak with exceptional clarity. Rated 93 points by James Suckling and 91 by The Wine Advocate.

The bouquet opens with ripe pear, crisp apple, and citrus, followed by spice, black tea, white flowers, and lightly toasted brioche. On the palate, the wine is energetic and finely textured — bright acidity, delicate bubbles, and a pronounced chalky, saline character. Subtle smoky and savory notes add complexity, and the finish is dry, focused, and persistent. An exceptional aperitif with the structure to carry through a full meal.

James Suckling 93 • Wine Advocate 91 • Wine Spectator 90 — "A refined yet expressive Champagne… terroir-driven and precise."

• Producer: Pascal Doquet, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2019 (with reserve wines)
• Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
• Vineyards: Vertus, Villeneuve & Mont Aimé
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs, Brut Nature
• Dosage: 0 g/L
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Reserve Wine: Held in enamel tanks for freshness and purity
• Alcohol: ~12.5%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Ripe pear, apple, citrus, spice, black tea, white flowers, brioche, chalky minerality, smoky notes, saline finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, shellfish, sushi, sashimi, grilled seafood, roast poultry, creamy cheeses, aged goat cheese

93 points from James Suckling. Zero dosage. Certified organic. Pascal Doquet's Arpège is Côte des Blancs Blanc de Blancs at its most honest and mineral-driven.

Yann Alexandre Blanches Terres Rosé 1er Cru Brut — Champagne 2018 Base

This elegant Premier Cru rosé is drawn from two exceptional lieu-dits: Les Blanches Terres in Coulommes-la-Montagne for Chardonnay, and Saint Lié in Villedommange for Pinot Noir. At 94% Chardonnay, it is a blanc de blancs in spirit — mineral-driven, precise, and tensile — with 6% Pinot Noir red wine added to impart delicate color, red-fruit lift, and subtle structure. The 2018 base is blended with 60% reserve wine, grounding the cuvée in depth and consistency, before a minimum of 48 months en tirage develops a refined mousse, creamy texture, and layered complexity.

The nose is graceful and expressive: white peach, strawberry, and fresh raspberry over a bed of chalk and white flowers. On the palate, the wine is precise and mineral-driven, with fine, persistent bubbles carrying notes of citrus cream, red currant, and brioche to a clean, saline finish. The Brut dosage of 6 g/L keeps the wine focused and dry, while the partial oak vinification adds just enough texture to elevate it at the table.

"Elegant and gastronomic — a Chardonnay-driven rosé Champagne of rare freshness, mineral energy, and delicate red-fruit charm."

• Producer: Yann & Séverine Alexandre, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2018
• Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
• Vineyards: Les Blanches Terres (Coulommes-la-Montagne) & Saint Lié (Villedommange)
• Blend: 94% Chardonnay, 6% Pinot Noir (red wine addition)
• Reserve Wine: 60%
• Vinification: Primarily stainless steel; 15% Chardonnay in oak; partial malolactic fermentation
• Lees Aging: Minimum 48 months en tirage
• Dosage: 6 g/L | Acidity: 5.51 g/L | pH: 2.9 | Alcohol: 12%
• Farming: Certified Sustainable by OCACIA
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White peach, strawberry, raspberry, chalk, white flowers, citrus cream, red currant, brioche, saline finish
• Best Paired With: Smoked salmon, tuna tartare, shellfish, sushi, roast poultry, charcuterie, creamy cheeses

Sixty percent reserve wine, 48 months on the lees, and two Premier Cru lieu-dits of rare mineral character — Yann Alexandre's Blanches Terres Rosé is grower Champagne at its most refined.

J. Vignier’s Pur Cramant is a rare, single-vineyard Grand Cru Champagne created to capture the character of one exceptional parcel in Cramant. For this cuvée, Nathalie Vignier selects a different lieu-dit from her family’s Cramant holdings according to which site she believes most clearly expresses the personality of the vintage. For the 2016 release, that vineyard was Les Fourches.

Located in the southern part of Cramant, close to the renowned Bateau vineyard, Les Fourches is planted with Chardonnay vines more than 55 years old. The parcel’s northeast-facing slopes and distinctive combination of clay-rich marl over pure Cretaceous chalk create a Champagne with both depth and precision. The marl contributes texture and power, while the deep chalk subsoil provides freshness, tension and the refined mineral character associated with the finest wines of the Côte des Blancs.

Produced entirely from Grand Cru Chardonnay, the wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel to preserve the purity of the fruit and the clarity of the vineyard expression. It underwent full malolactic fermentation and remained on its lees until bottling in April following the harvest. The Champagne then spent approximately 64 months aging en tirage before disgorgement, developing a fine mousse, greater complexity and a beautifully integrated texture.

Pur Cramant Les Fourches is precise, concentrated and elegantly structured. Aromas of lemon zest, white peach, green apple and white flowers are complemented by subtle notes of brioche, almond and chalk. The palate is energetic and finely textured, with bright citrus, ripe orchard fruit and a pronounced mineral core. Its Extra-Brut dosage keeps the finish dry, focused and persistent while allowing the character of the old vines and chalk-rich terroir to remain at the forefront.

This is a sophisticated, terroir-driven Champagne that is equally compelling as an aperitif or served with food. Pair it with oysters, caviar, scallops, lobster, sushi, roasted white fish, creamy poultry dishes, mushroom risotto or aged cheeses.

Wine Details

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Pur Cramant
• Lieu-Dit: Les Fourches
• Vintage: 2016
• Region: Champagne, France
• Appellation: Côte des Blancs
• Village: Cramant
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Wine Style: Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vine Age: More than 55 years
• Orientation: Northeast
• Soil: Cretaceous chalk, marl and clay
• Farming: Certified sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Élevage: Stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: Approximately 64 months en tirage before disgorgement
• Residual Sugar: 4.3 g/L
• Acidity: 4.4 g/L
• pH: 3.07
• Alcohol: 12.25%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

J. Vignier Ora Alba Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut — Côte des Blancs 2013 Base

Ora Alba — "the first light of day" — is J. Vignier's interpretation of northern Côte des Blancs Chardonnay at its most luminous and precise. Produced entirely from Grand Cru fruit sourced from three prestigious villages — Cramant, Chouilly, and Oiry — the cuvée draws on deep Cretaceous chalk complemented by marl and clay, a geology that yields Champagne of both mineral tension and generous texture. Cramant contributes structure and pronounced chalky minerality, Chouilly adds elegance and ripe fruit, and Oiry brings freshness and linear precision. Vinified and aged in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation, then aged on the lees for an extended period before disgorgement, the 2013 base gives the wine exceptional depth and a decade-plus of development. Certified sustainable by Socofret.

Fresh and refined on the nose: lemon zest, white peach, green apple, and delicate white flowers, with subtle brioche and toasted almond emerging with air. The palate is precise and energetic — layers of citrus, orchard fruit, and chalky minerality carried by fine bubbles and a softly creamy texture. The finish is long, dry, and elegant, with a persistent mineral drive that speaks clearly of its Grand Cru origins.

"Ora Alba is the Vignier family's vision of northern Côte des Blancs Chardonnay — bright, luminous, and deeply mineral."

• Producer: J. Vignier, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2013
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Villages: Cramant, Chouilly & Oiry
• 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: Extended aging before disgorgement
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon zest, white peach, green apple, white flowers, brioche, toasted almond, chalky minerality, long dry finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, caviar, lobster, scallops, sushi, roasted white fish, creamy poultry, mushroom risotto, aged cheeses

A 2013 base. Three Grand Cru villages. Extended lees aging. J. Vignier's Ora Alba is northern Côte des Blancs Blanc de Blancs at its most precise and compelling.

Chandon · Spritz Garden Collection · Lemon & Verbena · Argentina · 750ml

Chandon Argentina — the Moët Hennessy estate in the Uco Valley — has been making world-class sparkling wine in Mendoza since 1959. Their Garden Collection Spritz takes that same exceptional base wine and elevates it with a hand-selected blend of Argentine botanicals: lemon zest from Tucumán, verbena from Catamarca, white chili pepper, ginger, and artichoke — all macerated naturally to create a color and flavor that is 100% real, nothing artificial. The result is a perfectly balanced, ready-to-serve spritz that tastes like a garden in summer: bright, aromatic, and effortlessly refreshing. At $23.99 for 750ml, it's the easiest entertaining decision you'll make all season.

Pale golden with a delicate blush hue and a lively, persistent bead. The nose is immediately inviting: fresh lemon zest, fragrant verbena, and a subtle herbal lift from the ginger and white pepper. On the palate: light, crisp, and beautifully balanced — citrus-forward with a floral mid-palate and a clean, slightly bitter finish that keeps every sip refreshing. No mixing required. Just pour over 3–4 cubes of ice and serve.

• Producer: Chandon Argentina (Moët Hennessy, est. 1959)
• Style: Ready-to-serve sparkling spritz
• Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
• Base: Chandon sparkling wine
• Botanicals: Lemon zest (Tucumán) · Verbena (Catamarca) · White chili pepper · Ginger · Artichoke · Natural macerates only
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Fresh lemon zest, verbena, ginger, white pepper, floral mid-palate, clean bitter finish
• Serve: Pour over 3–4 ice cubes · No mixing required · Perfect for aperitivo, brunch & outdoor entertaining

Argentine botanicals, Chandon sparkling wine, and zero effort — the garden party in a bottle.

Bérêche et Fils has been producing Champagne since the mid-19th century, and the estate’s reputation as one of the finest in the entire region has only grown under the stewardship of brothers Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche. Their approach is uncompromising: single-vineyard plots, minimal dosage, no malolactic fermentation, and a deep respect for terroir that allows each site to speak with clarity and precision. The result is a house style that is unmistakably racy, mineral, and built for the long haul.

This Cramant Grand Cru is a singular expression of one of Champagne’s most celebrated Chardonnay terroirs — a finely defined, powdery, and ethereally fresh wine resting upon an incredible bedrock of chalk. The nose is ample and delicate, evoking hawthorn against a backdrop of slightly damp chalk. The palate is unctuous and pure, revealing notes of iodine and extraordinary mineral tension. The finish — soft, chalky, and seemingly endless — gives way to the sheer emotion that only a great Cramant can evoke. A magnificent vintage with excellent aging potential.

Varietal: Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs)
Vintage: 2020
Appellation: Cramant Grand Cru, Champagne, France
Style: Extra Brut / Zero Dosage
Farming: Biodynamic
Bottle Size: 750ml

Winemaker Description 

Blended Syrah, Grenache, and Mouvedre, this bold Brut Rosé offers a rush of strawberry and dried fruit aromas. It is effervescent and expansive on the mid-palate and is a bit more fruit-forward than the Paul de coste Rose light - a truly compelling sparkling wine from Provence.

Paul de Coste is an estate producing exceptional sparkling wines in the South of France. Started in 1952 with just one wine, the estate over time has added a full range of sparking wines from the South of France. Since the company was founded in the years following WWII, three generations of family has managed the operations with the same passion and philosophy for quality. Today, Paul de Coste wines are famous in France.

Memo Summary Notes

It is produced by Compagnie Française des Grands Vins (CFGV), a historic house known for mastering the Méthode Charmat (tank method) to create fresh, fruit-forward bubbles.

A masterwork of Côte des Blancs terroir, the 2016 Special Club Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay represents Pierre Gimonnet's most prestigious cuvée—a blanc de blancs of extraordinary depth and complexity from one of Champagne's most revered grower estates.

Critical Acclaim

• 96 Points - James Suckling: "Fantastic aromatic complexity...creamy, sleek and layered. Very soft and fine bubbles."
• 95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck: "Rounded and attractive...elegant mousse, soft texture of citrus oil, and clean, chalky finish."
• 93 Points - Wine Advocate: "Full-bodied and concentrated...admirably consistent and age-worthy cuvée."
• 93 Points - Wine Spectator: "Compact and well-integrated...racy acidity and intensity. Drink now through 2036."
• 92 Points - Vinous: "Bright and focused, with terrific depth...an absolute delight."

Vineyard & Winemaking

• 100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels
• 58% Cramant Grand Cru (Buissons, Bateau, Gros Mont, Champ du Prévôt)
• 27% Chouilly Grand Cru (Mont Aigu)
• 15% Cuis Premier Cru (Roualles, Croix-Blanche)
• Includes fruit from vines planted in 1911 and 1913, worked with horses
• Pure chalk terroir expressing classic Côte des Blancs minerality
• Malolactic fermentation completed
• Fermented and aged in stainless steel to preserve purity
• Aged 60+ months on the lees
• Disgorged 2023-2024 | Dosage: 4-5g/L (Extra Brut)

Tasting Profile

Shimmering golden hue with persistent, fine bubbles. The nose reveals extraordinary aromatic complexity: walnut, quince, dried apricot, white cocoa, fresh-baked croissant, citrus zest, white flowers, and hazelnut. On the palate, it's creamy yet vibrant—layers of honeyed green apple, lemon oil, juicy peach and pear, blanched almond, and tangerine unfold with elegant mousse and soft texture. The finish is long, caressing, and mineral-driven with racy acidity and chalky precision. This is a Champagne of remarkable balance: approachable now yet built for extended aging through 2036 and beyond.

Perfect Pairings

Serve chilled (45-50°F) with grilled scallops, lobster risotto, Dover sole meunière, roasted chicken with herbs, creamy aged cheeses (Comté, aged Gruyère), or simply on its own as an aperitif. This is Champagne for connoisseurs—a wine that rewards contemplation and elevates any celebration.

Special Club is an elite designation reserved for Champagne's finest grower-producers, representing the pinnacle of their craft. Only 250 cases imported to the US.

Winemaker Description 

The Crémant d’Alsace Brut Zero Rosé from Valentin Zusslin is 100% made with Pinot Noir, raised according to the traditional method for 18 months on slats, without dosage or addition of sulphites. The dress has salmon shades typical of this grape variety and reveals a beautiful fine effervescence, a sign of a neat farm.

On the nose as in the mouth, it delivers net aromas of red fruits – currant, blackcurrant, raspberry – supplemented with sweet spices and gourmet notes of hazelnut or macaroon. The tasting shows it brightly, dry, very digestible and with a controlled aromatic finish.

James Suckling writes | A rosé that for its class is relatively dry and winey, making it an excellent sparkling wine to accompany a meal.

Memo Summary Notes 

The Domaine Valentin Zusslin Crémant d'Alsace Brut Zéro Rosé is a highly regarded, biodynamic sparkling wine from Alsace, France. Known for its purity and lack of added sugar (Non-Dosé), it is a favorite among fans of "natural" and terroir-driven wines.

Paring Suggestions

Aperitif: Excellent on its own to wake up the palate.

Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Extra Brut Grand Cru — Bouzy NV

Pierre Paillard’s Les Parcelles is the definitive expression of Bouzy Grand Cru — a mosaic cuvée assembled from approximately 25 distinct parcels across the village’s sun-drenched, south-facing slopes. The blend is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, based on the 2020 harvest with 20% reserve wines, and it captures everything that makes Bouzy one of Champagne’s most celebrated Grand Cru villages: power, structure, and a chalky subsoil that keeps the wine focused and precise. Fermented in 350-liter oak barrels and cellared three years on the lees before disgorgement, the wine is dosed at just 2 g/L — Extra Brut in spirit and in fact. Rated 92 points by The Wine Advocate.

The bouquet is expressive and layered: pear, ripe citrus, and warm spices mingle with toasted bread, orange zest, and a whisper of brioche. On the palate, the wine is medium- to full-bodied with a lively, luminous fruit profile driven by racy acidity. The Pinot Noir from Bouzy’s south-facing slopes delivers depth and structure, while the Chardonnay adds finesse and brightness. The finish is long and pronounced, with a saline, chalky mineral drive that is the hallmark of great Bouzy terroir.

Wine Advocate 92 — “Livelier, more luminous fruit… racy acidity and a pronounced saline finish. A precise expression of Bouzy terroir.”

• Producer: Pierre Paillard, Bouzy, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Village: Bouzy (south-facing slopes)
• Blend: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
• Base Vintage: 2020 (with 20% reserve wines)
• Parcels: ~25 distinct parcels across Bouzy
• Style: Extra Brut
• Vinification: 350-liter oak barrels
• Lees Aging: 3 years before disgorgement
• Dosage: 2 g/L
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Pear, ripe citrus, warm spices, toasted bread, orange zest, brioche, racy acidity, saline chalky finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, roast chicken, duck, charcuterie, aged cheeses, mushroom dishes

92 points from The Wine Advocate. 25 parcels. 3 years on the lees. 2 g/L dosage. Pierre Paillard’s Les Parcelles is Bouzy Grand Cru Champagne at its most precise and compelling.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2014 

Vinous 98 Points | Bollinger’s 2014 La Grande Année is a great way to start the evening as guests mill around Wheeler Farms. It is early evening in Napa, but there is still plenty of action in the winery, where various lots are being pressed under the watchful eye of winemaker Nigel Kinsman. There are some moments where I would very much like to be a civilian, a regular person enjoying the night, but I am more concerned with our guests having a great night, so I quickly go back to check on our wines. The Bollinger 2014 is everything I expected; bright, focused and full of all the energy this late-ripening vintage conferred to the best wines. 

Producer Description 

La Grande Année: The Great Year. This Champagne is the embodiment of everything that makes Bollinger the producer that stands apart in Champagne. La Grande Année symbolizes the word “hand-crafted” so strongly that an overused word suddenly becomes the appropriate definition. 

La Grande Année is only produced in the most outstanding of vintages, where ripeness and acidity reach a perfect balance and aging potential is excellent.

Winemaker Description 

Our award-winning Hambledon Classic Cuvée Rosé is produced exclusively from our own estate on the South East facing chalk slopes of Windmill Down, in the historic village of Hambledon.

The rosé expression of our Classic Cuvée. Aged a minimum of 45 months, this Chardonnay-led blend will reveal aromas of wild strawberry and gentle vanilla. At the finish, Hambledon's chalky soils and the influence of the Pinot Noir red wine add a hint of phenolic bite.

The colour is vivid, a gentle salmon pink, and the fruit, reflecting the cooler 2019 vintage, has notes of green apple, crisp nashi pear and floral hedgerow scents of hawthorn and fresh sloe.

The rose expression of our Classic Cuvee. Aged a minimum of 45 months, this Chardonnay-led blend will reveal aromas of wild strawberry and gentle vanilla. At the finish, Hambledon's chalky soils and the influence of the Pinot Noir red wine add a hint of phenolic bite.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 97 Points |  Like a racing spinnaker, this is tightly trimmed yet voluminous in character. Toasty notes of roasted almond and vanilla wafer are deftly integrated with sun-dried black cherry, baked peach, blood orange sorbet and candied ginger flavors, all well-defined by racy acidity and a subtle streak of salinity. This is long and fragrant, with pain d'épices, graphite and tea rose notes playing on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2040.

William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 96 Points | Bollinger's 2015 Brut La Grande Année Rosé was disgorged in May last year with seven grams per liter dosage. Offering up deep aromas of orchard fruits, blood orange, mandarin rind and peach mingled with nuances of coffee, praline and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and layered, with a broad attack that segues into a vinous palate framed by high levels of structuring dry extract that makes its presence felt on the sapid, nutty and penetrating finish. Given the skin maturity and inherent structure of the year, the Bollinger team elected to include only 4.5% of still red wine in the blend, a comparatively low percentage.

Winemaker Description

Forbes Magazine | Almost 54 years ago, Robert “Kool” Bell along with his younger brother and childhood friends, started a band. The iconic band Kool & The Gang is now one of the longest non-stop touring bands in industry. An avid lover of Champagne, Kool had always envisioned having his own brand out of Europe. For many years, he sought out Grand Cru Vineyards from owners that have been selling for generations and decided to work with Paul Berthelot, a Multi-Vintage Grand Cru Producer since 1884.

Fabrice Gasnier is one of Chinon's most committed and expressive producers — a devoted practitioner of biodynamic viticulture whose wines are celebrated for their aromatic purity and terroir-driven precision. La Cravantine is his singular sparkling wine: a 100% Cabernet Franc Méthode Traditionnelle rosé from the Loire Valley, bone-dry, intensely fresh and finished with bubbles so fine and persistent they put many Champagnes to shame.

For the 2023 vintage, La Cravantine is released for the first time as a Millésime — a single-vintage bottling rather than the non-vintage blend of previous years. Fermented in bottle on its own residual sugar from the first alcoholic fermentation and aged for at least one year sur lattes, the wine is a pale rosé of remarkable delicacy and structure. Biodynamically farmed Cabernet Franc from Chinon delivers a wine that is simultaneously serious and utterly delicious.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate: "La Cravantine is a pale rosé colored Cabernet Franc sparkling wine with a very delicate mousse. Fermented on the bottle with its own residual sugar from the first alcohol fermentation and after at least one year sur lattes, the wine opens with an intense yet fine and elegant brioche and ripe apple bouquet. On the palate, this is an intense, round and textural, highly delicate fizz with a super elegant and refined mousse and a long, intense and aromatic, sustainably structured finish. A fabulous wine for aperitifs, breakfasts and desserts."

Tasting Notes

Pale rosé in the glass with an exceptionally fine, persistent mousse. The nose is elegant and inviting — brioche, ripe apple, strawberry and white peach, with a clean mineral undercurrent. The palate is bone-dry, round and textural, with a spicy, firm structure and a long, aromatic finish. Fresh, precise and wonderfully versatile.

Food Pairing

Perfect as an aperitif and equally at home with oysters, sushi, grilled fish, fried foods, soft cheeses and light desserts. One of the most food-friendly sparkling wines in the Loire.

Specifications

Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc (100%)
Country: France
Region: Loire Valley
Appellation: Chinon
Style: Sparkling Rosé / Méthode Traditionnelle
Dosage: Brut
Vintage: 2023 (first Millésime release)
Aging: Minimum 1 year sur lattes
Farming: Biodynamic / organic
ABV: ~12%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Fabrice Gasnier

Winemaker Description

The Extra Brut Solessence Nature unwinds in the glass with scents of white flowers, crisp green apple, spring blossom and almond paste. Medium to full-bodied, ample and precise, it's a bright, vibrant wine with chalky structure and a long, saline finish.

Winemaker Description

The 2008 Rare Rosé is Piper-Heidsieck's second ever prestige cuvée rosé — an extremely premium and rare offering 11 years in the making. The legendary eye of Régis Camus saw a rare opportunity in the 2008 Champagne vintage, a beautifully complex and eccentric year. It is an audacious wine, born of intuition, vision, and aspiration — the very definition of Rosé. Following an attack that is both elegant and generous, the velvety texture unfurls to offer minerality and subtlety. The exuberant vitality of dark fruits and citrus is followed by vibrancy, smoky notes of star anise and violets.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | The 2008 Champagne Rare Rosé is straight-up sensational. Only the second time they've produced this cuvée, it offers a deep, full-bodied, powerful yet chiseled and laser-focused style carrying loads of wild strawberry fruit as well as notes of orange blossom, spice, and crushed rocks. Backward, austere, yet simply loaded with potential, it needs a solid 4–5 years of bottle age and will drink brilliantly for two decades or more.

Wine Spectator 97 Points | A vibrant Champagne, ballet-slipper pink in color, featuring intense flavors of nectarine, ripe raspberry, grilled nut, espresso and graphite, with a touch of dried sage, all riding the finely detailed mousse. Like a ballerina, this offers power in a graceful form. A beautiful skein of spice unravels on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2033.

Food Pairings

Best enjoyed with lobster, langoustine, seared duck breast, wagyu beef, and aged hard cheeses. A world-class prestige Champagne for the most special occasions.

Product Details

Bottle Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2008
Region: Champagne, France
Appellation: Champagne AOC
Style: Brut Rosé Vintage Champagne
Producer: Piper-Heidsieck
Cuvée: Rare Rosé — Prestige Cuvée

Winemaker Description

Its traditional production makes Vocation Champagne a Blanc de Noirs to enjoy on any occasion and turn it into a memorable moment.

The Champagne region is synonymous with excellence, hard work and continuous work to continue offering recognized world-class wines and bubbles. Our vocation and respect for nature, as well as our lives, manage to create the best fruit which is the basis and structure for our final offering.

Vocation is the living representation of what has been our home for centuries and radiates our values ​​as a family by making and respecting the traditional way of making champagne, the precious liquid.

Miguel Torres Estelado País Brut Rosé — Traditional Method, Valle del Maule, Chile

Miguel Torres Chile is one of South America's most pioneering wine estates, and Estelado is their most historically significant project: a sparkling rosé made entirely from País — the ancient grape brought to Chile by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century and long dismissed as a workhorse variety. Torres recognized what others overlooked: that old-vine País, farmed in the granite and clay soils of the Valle del Maule, has the acidity, freshness, and character to make a genuinely compelling traditional-method sparkling wine. Estelado is the proof. It is a wine of heritage, purpose, and genuine originality — a Brut Rosé that stands apart from anything else in the sparkling world.

The color is a delicate pale rosé with fine, persistent bubbles that rise in an elegant stream. The nose is fresh and inviting: red berries, citrus fruit, wild strawberry, and a subtle floral lift — characteristic of the ancestral País varietal. On the palate, the wine is fresh, lively, and genuine — crisp acidity, a light, airy mousse, and a clean, fruit-forward finish that is as easy to drink as it is interesting to think about.

“Pale rosé color, with fine and persistent bubbles. Hints of red and citrus fruits dominate on the nose. On the palate, fresh, lively, and genuine, characteristic of the ancestral País varietal.” — Winemaker’s Notes

• Producer: Miguel Torres Chile, Valle del Maule, Chile
• Appellation: Valle del Maule, Chile
• Varietal: 100% País
• Method: Traditional Method (Méthode Traditionnelle)
• Style: Brut Rosé Sparkling
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Red berries, wild strawberry, citrus, floral lift, fine persistent bubbles, crisp finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, ceviche, light seafood, charcuterie, soft cheeses, aperitivo

A traditional-method Brut Rosé from Chile’s most ancient grape — Miguel Torres Estelado is the benchmark for what old-vine País, farmed in Valle del Maule, can deliver in a glass of sparkling wine.

Winemaker Description

Traditional blend of the 3 Champagne grape varieties from several harvests.  Made up of approximately 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay for the white wine. A Pinot Meunier-based red wine is added.
 
The salmon-colored rose enhances the sparkling foam.  The generous bouquet evolves towards notes of raspberry and redcurrant. The mouth develops into a taste of fleshy cherry.