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97 Points by Antonio Galloni, Vinous

The 2022 Brut Nature Chemin de Rois is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, vinified and aged in barrel. Rich and sumptuous in the glass, the 2022 is seriously impressive right out of the gate. All the elements are so well balanced. The purity of the fruit, the definition, the balance—everything is so profoundly beautiful. This sensational Champagne puts Vincent Cuillier on the map. I can't recommend it highly enough. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: March 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year.

Pascal Doquet Champs Libres Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut — Côte des Blancs 2018 Base

Pascal Doquet is one of the leading certified organic growers of the Côte des Blancs, and Champs Libres — "Free Fields" — is his most wide-ranging Blanc de Blancs, drawing 100% Chardonnay from six distinct vineyard sources: Vertus, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Villeneuve, Mont Aimé, Bassuet, and Bassu. Where his Arpège focuses on Premier Cru terroir, Champs Libres casts a broader net, assembling a cuvée of genuine complexity and breadth. The 2018 base was fermented in tank with full malolactic fermentation to soften the vintage's naturally high acidity while preserving freshness and mineral definition. Finished at approximately 2–3 g/L dosage, the Extra Brut style keeps the wine focused, dry, and expressive. Rated 92 points by James Suckling and 90 by The Wine Advocate.

The nose is vivid and refined: warm apple, baked pear, and citrus open to white flowers, orange peel, pastry spice, and a subtle touch of nougat. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and finely textured — delicate bubbles, lively acidity, and a distinctly chalky, saline mineral character. Fresh green apple, citrus, and lightly savory pastry lead into a clean, energetic, and persistent finish. James Suckling calls it "laser-focused… with lively energy and a delicious finish."

James Suckling 92 • Wine Advocate 90 — "A vivid, crisp and laser-focused Blanc de Blancs with aromas of warm apples, baked pears and pastry spices… lively energy and a delicious finish." — James Suckling

• Producer: Pascal Doquet, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2018
• Appellation: Champagne
• Vineyard Sources: Vertus, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Villeneuve, Mont Aimé, Bassuet & Bassu
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
• Dosage: ~2–3 g/L
• Fermentation: Tank; full malolactic fermentation
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Warm apple, baked pear, citrus, white flowers, orange peel, pastry spice, nougat, chalky minerality, saline finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, shellfish, sushi, grilled fish, roast chicken, soft-ripened cheeses, aged goat cheese

92 points from James Suckling. Six vineyard sources. Certified organic. Pascal Doquet's Champs Libres is Côte des Blancs Blanc de Blancs at its most expressive and accessible.

L. Aubry Fils | Brut | Premier Cru | Montagne de Reims, Champagne | NV (70% 2021 Base) | Transitioning Organic

Wine and Spirits: 92 Points — Fresh and complex, showing red currant, green pear, red apple and wildflower honey. Praised for its lively herbal acidity, generous fruit and the additional character contributed by Champagne's rare historic grape varieties.

James Suckling: 92 Points — Smooth, rounded and beautifully balanced, with bright lemon and citrus flavors, gentle nuttiness and a refined pastry-like texture on the finish.

Wine Spectator: 91 Points — Firm and mineral driven, with wild cherry, berry fruit, wet chalk and brine. A fine mousse carries notes of whole-grain toast, grapefruit pith and lemon thyme through the finish. (Disgorged March 2025)

Vinous: 91 Points — Gracious, elegant and charming, with delicate notes of orchard fruit, spice, dried flowers and mint. (Disgorged May 2021)

L. Aubry Fils is one of Champagne's most singular grower-producers. The Aubry family has cultivated vines in the region since 1790, and brothers Philippe and Pierre Aubry now run the estate from the Premier Cru village of Jouy-les-Reims in the Petite Montagne de Reims. Their particular distinction lies in the preservation of Champagne's rarest historic grape varieties — Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau (the local name for Pinot Gris) — cultivated today by only a handful of producers in the region. These varieties appear in the Brut alongside the three classic Champagne grapes, lending the wine an aromatic complexity and originality that sets it apart from the mainstream.

The current release is composed of 31% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir, 31% Pinot Meunier and 7% Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau, drawn from Premier Cru vineyards in Jouy-les-Reims, Villedommange, Pargny-les-Reims and Coulommes-la-Montagne. The soils are fossil-rich limestone, contributing brightness, pronounced acidity and a firm mineral character. The estate is progressively transitioning toward organic farming, with close attention to soil health and the long-term preservation of its historic varieties.

The base is 70% from the 2021 harvest, supplemented by 30% reserve wines dating back to 1998 — a perpetual reserve that adds depth, maturity and consistency across releases. Vinification is primarily in stainless steel, preserving freshness and fruit purity, with a portion of the Chardonnay matured in previously used oak barrels for texture and subtle pastry richness. Malolactic fermentation is completed in full. After secondary fermentation in bottle, the wine ages more than 18 months on its lees and is finished at a dosage of approximately 4 grams per liter — dry, energetic and food-friendly.

The wine opens with aromas of green pear, crisp apple, white peach and red berries, followed by white flowers, citrus peel, fresh bread and subtle wildflower honey. With air, notes of toasted grain, almond, dried herbs and chalk emerge. The palate is lively and finely balanced — fresh orchard fruit and bright citrus are joined by wild cherry, raspberry and red currant, while a delicate mousse carries whole-grain toast, grapefruit pith, lemon thyme and roasted nuts. Firm acidity and a mineral foundation of wet chalk and brine lead to a clean, persistent and gently saline finish.

Serve as an aperitif or pair with oysters, shellfish, grilled fish, smoked salmon, sushi, roast chicken, charcuterie, mushroom dishes, fried appetizers and moderately aged cheeses. Serve well chilled at 46–50°F in a white wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass.

• Producer: L. Aubry Fils
• Cuvée: Brut
• Classification: Premier Cru Brut
• Appellation: Champagne, France
• Region: Montagne de Reims
• Villages: Jouy-les-Reims, Villedommange, Pargny-les-Reims and Coulommes-la-Montagne
• Grape Varieties: 31% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir, 31% Pinot Meunier, 7% Arbanne / Petit Meslier / Fromenteau
• Base Vintage: 70% 2021 harvest
• Reserve Wines: 30%, dating back to 1998
• Farming: Transitioning organic
• Soils: Fossil-rich limestone
• Vinification: Primarily stainless steel; portion of Chardonnay in used oak
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: 18+ months
• Dosage: ~4 g/L
• Bottle Size: 750ml

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

Mionetto is one of Italy’s most celebrated Prosecco houses, with roots in Valdobbiadene dating back to 1887. This single-serve 187ml bottle delivers everything you love about great Prosecco in a perfectly portable format — ideal for brunches, celebrations, mimosas, or an Aperol Spritz on the go. Light straw in color with bright yellow highlights, it opens with a bouquet of honey, fresh apple, and white peach, leading to a crisp, refreshing palate with lively effervescence and well-balanced acidity.

Food Pairings: Spicy curries, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, burgers, pizza, fresh salads, and light appetizers. The classic choice for mimosas and Aperol Spritz.

Varietal: Glera (Prosecco)
Style: Sparkling Brut
Producer: Mionetto
Region: Veneto, Italy
Serve: Chilled in a champagne flute or white wine glass
Bottle Size: 187ml

A treasure in the portfolio, La Perle is produced only in exceptional years, according to practices that have remained faithful to the Champagne tradition. Composed of a majority of Chardonnay, this wine captures the essence of the Champagne terroir, in the purest respect of the style of the House.

Expert Reviews

95 Wine Advocate: Disgorged in July 2021 with six grams per liter dosage, Ayala's 2013 Brut La Perle is showing brilliantly, offering up aromas of crisp white peach and other stone fruits mingled with hints of shortbread, beeswax and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, suave and seamless, it's elegantly vinous, with a textural attack that segues into an ample, vibrant mid-palate that's animated but not dominated by the vintage's tangy acids. This Chardonnay-dominant cuvée is a terrific success this year.

94 James Suckling: The softness and length to this is very precise, with a creamy texture. Bread dough, apple tart tatin and salted butter. Yet always subtle. Very long and alluring. 80% chardonnay Chouilly, Mesnil and Cramant. 20% pinot noir from Ay. 8 years on lees. 6 g/l dosage. Drink or hold.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to three business days to fulfill.

A fruity, mouth-watering wine. On the nose it reveals aromas of cherries and raspberries. It lines the mouth and the palate and the fruit remains present.

Famille Ferrando · Châteauneuf-du-Pape F601 · 2023

100% Old-Vine Cinsault · Rhône Valley, France · 750ml · Special Order — Pre-Sale Price

Producer & Terroir

F601 puts Cinsault at the center of Famille Isabel Ferrando’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape story. Sourced from vines planted in 1928 in the historic Saint-Préfert F601 parcel, this limited-production cuvée offers a distinctive alternative to the appellation’s more familiar Grenache-led reds.

Since her debut vintage in 2003, Isabel Ferrando has built her work around understanding the estate’s individual terroirs. Today, working alongside her daughter Guillemette, she continues that pursuit under the Famille Isabel Ferrando name. F601 is a particularly personal expression of that vineyard focus.

Tasting Notes

Smoky black fruit, roasted herbs, licorice and Provençal spices shape an aromatic profile with a savory hint of tapenade. The medium- to full-bodied palate combines layered fruit with fine tannins, purity and finesse, as described in Jeb Dunnuck’s review below.

Winemaker Notes

Isabel Ferrando: "It took me 16 years of observation and learning to develop a deep understanding and a personal relationship with my terroir, guided by instinct and feeling. With this vintage, I have launched “F601”, the pure and absolute expression of my experience with my parcel F601 of Saint Prefert and the old-vine Cinsault, planted in 1928, a singular and unique expression. At this point in my life, I am thrilled to share my enchantment for this remarquable wine.”

100% old-vine Cinsault planted in 1928 made with whole clusters in one used demi-muid barrel. Very limited production and packaged in a special wooden box.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Jeb Dunnuck, 96 Points · November 2025: "From vines planted in 1928, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape F601 (100% Cinsault) was vinified with 40% whole clusters and aged in a single amphora. It offers smoky black fruits, roasted herbs, licorice, Provençal spices, and even a hint of tapenade, showing beautiful complexity and nuance in its aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, focused, and layered, it has fine tannins, beautiful purity, and finesse. Tasted twice with consistent notes."

Food Pairings

Consider roasted duck, herb-crusted lamb, game birds, veal or wild mushroom risotto. These savory dishes complement the wine’s herbal aromatics and refined texture.

Wine Details

• Producer: Famille Ferrando
• Cuvée: F601
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Region: Southern Rhône, Rhône Valley, France
• Vineyard: Saint-Préfert, F601 parcel
• Grape: 100% Cinsault
• Vines planted: 1928
• Style: Red wine
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Presentation: Special wooden box
• Availability: Special Order — Pre-Sale Price

Pascal Doquet | Diapason | Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs | Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne | 2015 Base | Organic

Pascal Doquet is one of the Côte des Blancs' most respected grower-producers, farming certified organic vineyards in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — one of Champagne's most celebrated and prestigious Grand Cru villages, renowned worldwide for producing Blanc de Blancs of extraordinary mineral precision, tension, and longevity. Doquet has farmed organically for many years and has been certified by Ecocert since 2010, a commitment to the land that translates directly into wines of exceptional purity and terroir transparency.

Diapason is a remarkable Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from the celebrated Cretaceous chalk soils of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The ripe 2015 harvest forms the base of the cuvée, complemented by reserve wines maintained through a perpetual reserve system. The fruit comes from old Chardonnay vines rooted deeply in Le Mesnil's chalk, including parcels planted as far back as the 1920s — vines whose extraordinary depth of root gives the wine its signature tension, salinity, and finely etched mineral character.

Grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Approximately half the wine is vinified in neutral oak barrels, the remainder in enamel-lined tanks — preserving freshness while adding subtle texture and complexity. Malolactic fermentation is completed, and the Champagne spends an extended period aging on its lees before disgorgement at a restrained dosage of approximately 3.5 g/L, allowing the purity of fruit and terroir to remain at the forefront.

The bouquet opens with vibrant aromas of lemon peel, Asian pear, gooseberry, white flowers, and passion fruit, followed by deeper notes of pastry dough, toasted almond, dried apricot, and chalk. On the palate, concentrated yet beautifully controlled — a creamy, finely textured mousse supported by bright acidity and a firm mineral structure. Citrus, nectarine, pear, ginger, and salted almond develop across the palate, leading to a long, precise, and distinctly saline finish. Powerful enough to accompany a meal, refined enough to serve as an aperitif.

Pair with oysters, lobster, scallops, caviar, grilled white fish, sushi, roast chicken, creamy cheeses, and aged Comté. Serve well chilled at 46–50°F in a white wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass.

• Producer: Pascal Doquet
• Cuvée: Diapason
• Classification: Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs
• Appellation: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Grape: Chardonnay (100%)
• Base Vintage: 2015
• Farming: Certified Organic (Ecocert since 2010)
• Soils: Cretaceous chalk; vines from the 1920s
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; 50% neutral oak, 50% enamel-lined tanks
• Dosage: ~3.5 g/L (Extra Brut)
• 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

MAGNUM SIZE: Agrapart · L’Avizoise Grand Cru · Champagne 2019

Grand Cru pedigree. Remarkable depth. Magnificent in magnum.

A magnum of vintage Blanc de Blancs from Avize in Champagne’s Côte des Blancs, L’Avizoise is Agrapart’s expression of the upper hillside, where the estate’s existing producer profile describes more clay over the chalk. This is the powerful side of Avize, framed by the chalky character that defines the village.

The Agrapart family has bottled Champagne under its own name since the domaine’s founding in 1894. Pascal Agrapart helped establish its reputation for site-driven wines; Ambroise joined him in the 2018 vintage. For this 2019 Extra Brut, the 1.5-liter format makes a striking bottle to open around a generous table.

From the existing producer profile

“At the top of the hill where there is more clay, he produces his most powerful wine, ‘L’Avizoise’.”

Powerful, expressive, and beautifully textured, Pascal Agrapart’s Avizoise 2019 showcases the generous side of Grand Cru Chardonnay. Presented in an impressive 1.5-liter magnum—the equivalent of two standard bottles—this vintage Blanc de Blancs brings depth and elegance to a celebratory table or a carefully chosen Champagne collection.

The 2019 combines ripe orchard fruit and citrus with floral nuances, freshly baked bread, and a chalky mineral character. Its concentrated, richly textured palate is enlivened by fine bubbles and vibrant freshness, delivering a Champagne with both presence and finesse.

The Vineyard: Grand Cru Avize

Avizoise comes from the Robarts and Gros Yeux parcels in Avize, a Grand Cru village in Champagne’s Côte des Blancs. These sites share a deep layer of clay-rich topsoil over chalk, a geological profile that contributes to the cuvée’s distinctive density and richness. Made entirely from Chardonnay, Avizoise expresses this terroir in a style that is generous, elegant, and particularly well suited to the dining table.

About Pascal Agrapart

Based in Avize, Pascal Agrapart is a grower-producer working exclusively with estate-grown grapes. Pascal and his son Ambroise tend approximately 12 hectares of vineyards, predominantly planted to Chardonnay in Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs.

The domaine places living soils at the center of its vineyard philosophy. Ploughing and compost made from local ingredients help sustain the health of the vineyards, while careful harvesting and pressing preserve the character of the fruit. The Champagnes are bottled at the estate without fining or filtration and are riddled by hand.

Serving & Food Pairings

Serve in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or a white wine glass to allow the aromas and texture to unfold. Suggested pairings include butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken, turbot with a creamy sauce, or aged Comté. The magnum format makes an especially striking centerpiece for a dinner or celebration.

Wine Details

• Producer: Pascal Agrapart
• Cuvée: Avizoise
• Vintage: 2019
• Region: Champagne, France
• Origin: Avize, Côte des Blancs
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Bottle Size: Magnum — 1.5 Liter

Ratings & Reviews

Vinous 97

97The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs L’Avizoise Grand Cru is dialed up to the maximum. Ample and broad on the palate, the Avizoise is seriously impressive right out of the gate. So expressive today, the 2019 will only improve over time. Even in the early going, it soars with tremendous textural resonance and body. The natural gravitas of these sites (Champboutons and Bionnes) in Avize comes through loud and clear. The Avizoise is the most dense and potent of these Champagnes from Agrapart. It is bottled with no dosage but does have 3 grams of natural residual sugar. Disgorged: June 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. - By Antonio Galloni on November 2025.

97 James Suckling

Reviewed October 2025

An austere nose of lime zest, chalk and lemon leaves. It needs time in the glass to become gentler, with lemon curd and apple flavors, pinprick bubbles, a medium body and very good concentration that’s typical of the vintage. A restrained wine with zesty, integrated acidity and a super tight-knit texture. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate 95 Points 

Review Date: 03/2026

Disgorged in October 2025 without dosage, the 2019 Blanc de Blancs Avizoise leaps from the glass with a flamboyant bouquet of orange confit, ripe peach and rose apple, mingled with freshly baked bread. On the palate, it is full-bodied and immensely concentrated, open-knit and muscular, with a rich, textural core of fruit and succulent yet vibrant acidity, enlivened by a pinpoint mousse and concluding with a flavorful finish tinged with orange. Avizoise is often the richest and most demonstrative wine in the portfolio, but this year it goes well beyond that descriptor. A residual sugar of around four grams per liter lends a more generous, giving style, and the wine will age on its concentration rather than its acidity. As ever, it derives from clay-rich soils in the commune of Avize and is typically where Agrapart begins the harvest; yields were reduced by some 30% due to frost this year. (KK)

An Avize-focused Champagne for a gathering worth opening a magnum.

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

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.

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

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

Ayala’s Brut Nature is a zero-dosage Champagne that highlights the House’s remarkable vinification expertise. After nearly four years of cellar aging, the wine reveals an elegant complexity.

The blend primarily features Chardonnay, with a touch of Pinot Noir and a small amount of Pinot Meunier, resulting in a balanced, pure expression. 

Expert Ratings

92 VINOUS:  Pale gold. Nervy lime, ginger and floral scents, with suggestions of iodine and tarragon. Tightly wound, mineral-driven citrus fruit flavors put on weight with air and take a turn to deeper nectarine and pear. Unfolds slowly on the finish, hanging on with excellent tenacity and resonating mineral and floral notes.

91 Wine Enthusiast: With zero dosage, this is a particularly dry Champagne. However, a few extra months before release has softened the taut nature of the Chardonnay and allowed the red grapes to come through. The result is a success, ripe and full, while having a fine structure. Drink now.

Crafted from Chardonnay grown on the chalky and clay-limestone soils of Festigny, this Brut Nature Champagne is vinified and matured partially in large oak foudres, allowing texture and depth to develop without masking purity. The nose is clean and refined, revealing subtle notes of fresh apple, lemon zest, white flowers, and a gentle hint of toasted almond from oak aging.

On the palate, the wine is precise and energetic, driven by vibrant acidity and a finely integrated mousse. Flavors of citrus, green pear, and almond are layered with a delicate saline edge and restrained woody nuance. With zero dosage, the finish is long, focused, and mineral, highlighting the natural expression of Chardonnay and the craftsmanship of Christophe Mignon.

Elegant, structured, and deeply expressive, this Champagne is an excellent choice for lovers of terroir-driven, low-intervention wines and pairs beautifully with shellfish, seafood, or simply enjoyed on its own as a contemplative aperitif.

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2013 

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 96 Points |  (made with 50 percent whole clusters) Bright purple. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet of fresh black and blue fruit, candied licorice and Asian spice scents develops a sexy floral note as the wine opens up. Vibrant and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering intense, smoke-tinged black currant, boysenberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors energized by a refreshing snap of juicy acidity. Blends richness and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes extremely long and gently tannic, leaving a sappy blue fruit note behind. Drinking 2023 - 2032.

James Suckling writes 97 Points | The most brooding nose of the trio of La La's with dark coal smoky aromas and dark stones, graphite and cocoa powder. Fruits are in the very dark plum and blackberry spectrum but flavors are held in a more savory mode with assertive, powerful clean-cut tannins that hold endless length. Truly a masterpiece. Best from 2022 and for two decades or more.

Joe Czerwinski of The Wine Advocate writes 94 Points | The 2013 Cote Rotie La Mouline shows none of the vintage’s sometimes dry tannins. It offers crisp black fruit—plums and blackberries—underscored by hints of pencil shavings, espresso and grilled meat. Suave and long, it should drink well for a couple of decades. Drinking 2020 - 2035. 

James Molesworth of the Wine Spectator writes 96 Points | Very ripe, with layers of fig, boysenberry and plum compote forming the core, inlaid liberally with licorice snap, roasted apple wood and Turkish coffee notes. Shows lots of heft, but everything pulls together on the finish, exhibiting drive and definition. Best from 2020 through 2040. 65 cases imported.

Jeb Dunnuck writes 94+ Points | One of the more restrained and fresh vintages of this cuvée out there, the 2013 Côte Rôtie La Mouline still has a classic Mouline floral, gamey, and spicy bouquet to go with medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. With good concentration, notable complexity, sweet tannin, and plenty of length, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 15+. Drinking 2022 - 2037.

Richard Hemming MW of Jancis Robinson writes 18/20 Points | Hickory smoke, violets, tobacco, black-cherry fruit, pepper and a touch of stemmy herbal character. Super-fine tannins, and quite light body with a finish that isn't as expansive as the palate. Still young, so the length may well develop. Drinking 2019 - 2033 

An exceptionally refined expression of Chardonnay, Billecart-Salmon Le Blanc de Blancs is crafted entirely from Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs, one of Champagne’s most celebrated terroirs for Chardonnay.

The cuvée brings together fruit from the prestigious villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, producing a Champagne of remarkable purity, precision and mineral intensity. Billecart-Salmon blends wines from two different years, allowing the House to capture both freshness and complexity while maintaining its signature elegant style.

Made from 100% Chardonnay, the wine is vinified in stainless-steel tanks to preserve its delicate fruit and mineral character. Between 20% and 50% reserve wines are incorporated into the blend, adding depth and complexity, while extended aging of approximately 4 to 5 years on the lees creates its refined texture and beautifully integrated mousse.

In the glass, Le Blanc de Blancs displays a luminous golden color with subtle green reflections and an exceptionally fine stream of bubbles. The mousse is delicate yet generous, giving the Champagne an elegant and polished appearance.

The bouquet is precise and mineral-driven, revealing aromas of white flowers, fresh butter and brioche, followed by bright citrus and subtle chalky notes. With time in the glass, the wine develops additional layers while retaining a remarkable sense of finesse and freshness.

On the palate, it is beautifully creamy yet vibrant. Flavors of fresh almond, lemon zest and citrus are carried by a distinctly chalky texture, reflecting the limestone-rich soils of the Côte des Blancs. A delicate meringue-like richness adds softness and depth, while the Champagne’s natural acidity keeps the palate fresh, energetic and beautifully balanced.

The finish is long, smooth and mineral, with a subtle saline note that adds precision and makes the wine particularly compelling at the table. Billecart-Salmon describes the cuvée as combining impressive vinosity with an unexpectedly fresh finish — a style that appeals especially to lovers of elegant, mineral-driven Champagne.

Vineyards

100% Grand Cru Côte des Blancs

Avize · Chouilly · Cramant · Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

Tasting Notes

Color: Luminous gold with delicate green reflections
Aromas: White flowers, brioche, fresh butter and mineral notes
Palate: Lemon zest, citrus, fresh almond, chalk and delicate meringue
Style: Creamy, precise, elegant and mineral-driven
Finish: Long, refined and saline

Winemaking

Vinification: Stainless steel
Reserve Wines: Approximately 20–50%
Lees Aging: Approximately 4–5 years
Recommended Cellaring: 8–10 years for a 750ml bottle
Serving Temperature: Approximately 50°F / 10°C
Bottle Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Oysters · Caviar · Scallops · Langoustines · Seafood carpaccio · Ceviche · Turbot · Sushi

Billecart-Salmon Le Blanc de Blancs is a beautifully precise Grand Cru Champagne, combining creamy Chardonnay richness with brilliant citrus freshness, chalky minerality and the effortless elegance for which the House is renowned.

Vincent Charlet Champagne Grower Vignoble de Mardeuil Extra Brut · Champagne, France

Producer Description

Charlot: single-vintage and grapes coming from two plots only, the 2 “biggest” ones that Vincent has.

Grapes: around 55% Pinot Meunier, the remaining 45% consist of a roughly equal proportion of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Certified organic and biodynamic.

Vineyard: blend of “La Genette” (0.55 ha) and “La Chapotte” (0.55 ha). Both certified biodynamic and located in Mardeuil. Clay-limestone, clay, flint, chalk.

Making of: The grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed and gently pressed, then ferment spontaneously in neutral barrels. No malolactic fermentation, the wine rests in barrels for about 9-11 months. Bottled with liqueur de tirage and aged on lees for 42 months for the secondary fermentation (prise de mousse), disgorged, and topped up using the same wine, with a dosage of 4g/l (extra brut).

Champagne Vincent Charlot, aka Charlot Tanneux, Vincent went to Winemaking School in Alsace in the early 1990s, then he took over the Family Vineyards and started his journey of Organic Grower Champagne. 4.4 hectares vineyard, spread over 39 different plots in 6 villages. Each parcel is vinified separately in order to showcase its terroir uniqueness. These plots are all cultivated in organic and biodynamics, Demeter certified, organic grower.

Personality

This wine has everything! There’s saffron, flowers, delicate spice touch (nutmeg and white pepper), light brioche, sweet wood, almonds, wonderful roundness held by acidic grip… layers just keep on coming, you’ll have fun swimming in them.

The House

Vincent Charlot farms 4.4 hectares (~11 acres) spread over 39 different plots and 6 villages (Mardeuil, Vauciennes, Epernay, Moussy, Pierry 1er Cru, Ay Grand Cru), estate-owned, with very diverse soils: chalk, clay, silex (flint), sand, limestone. Main varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, plus ancient ones like Arbanne and Petit Meslier. Certified organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic (Demeter) since 2013, with annual production of approximately 30,000 bottles, all single vintage.

Each parcel is vinified separately in order to showcase its uniqueness. Spontaneous fermentation in amphoras and seasoned barrels; the wines are left to go through malolactic fermentation as they choose (mostly not). Secondary fermentation in bottles with concentrated grape must, long aging on lees. Little to no SO2 at press, very low dosages (around 4g/l, Extra Brut).

“When I drink wine, I want to taste its terroir – this is what I’m in it for. I want to see the personality of the place where it was born, I want to be moved, to create emotion,” Vincent Charlot explains.

Details

• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Region: Mardeuil, Champagne, France
• Grapes: Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
• Type: Sparkling
• Style: Extra Brut
• Farming: Organic, Biodynamic

J. Vignier Les Longues Verges Grand Cru Brut — Cramant & Chouilly 2013

Les Longues Verges is J. Vignier’s most distinctive single-vineyard cuvée — a Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from a unique parcel that straddles the boundary between two of the Côte des Blancs’ most celebrated villages: Cramant and Chouilly. The name itself is a piece of history: “verges” was an old French unit of measurement, roughly 50 meters, used before the metric system. The vineyard’s northeast-facing exposure on Cretaceous chalk, marl, and clay preserves freshness and acidity while encouraging the Chardonnay to develop exceptional purity and concentration. Vinified in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation, bottled in May 2014, and aged 84 months in bottle before release — the 2013 vintage emerges with the depth and integration of a wine that has been given all the time it needs. Certified sustainable by Socofret.

Elegant and focused on the nose: bright citrus, white peach, and orchard fruit joined by jasmine, fennel, ginger, and toasted brioche. The palate is long, juicy, and finely structured — creamy texture balanced by vivid acidity and the steely, chalk-driven minerality that defines Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. Cramant’s refined structure and Chouilly’s generous fruit meet in a wine of compelling harmony and a finish that lingers with precision and grace.

“Les Longues Verges sits at the boundary of two Grand Cru villages — and the wine itself is a study in contrasts beautifully resolved: structure and generosity, freshness and depth, history and precision.”

• Producer: J. Vignier, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2013
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Villages: Cramant & Chouilly
• Vineyard: Les Longues Verges (northeast exposure)
• 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
• Bottle Aging: 84 months
• Residual Sugar: 4.4 g/L | Acidity: 4.2 g/L | pH: 3.07 | Alcohol: 12.5%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Citrus, white peach, orchard fruit, jasmine, fennel, ginger, brioche, creamy texture, steely chalky minerality
• Best Paired With: Oysters, caviar, lobster, scallops, sushi, roasted white fish, creamy poultry, mushroom risotto, aged cheeses

2013 vintage. 84 months in bottle. A single parcel spanning two Grand Cru villages. J. Vignier’s Les Longues Verges is Côte des Blancs Blanc de Blancs at its most singular and precise.

The Hardy XO Rare Cognac is part of the 'Tradition' Range by the House of Hardy. The blend is superbly aged with a beautiful amber color and incredible smoothness of taste. A real treat for all the senses, it delights with it's good looks, tantalising aromas, ever-evolving palate and satisfyingly long finish.

Presented in a contemporary decanter-style bottle, it displays beautifully atop a drinks cabinet.  As with all Hardy Cognac, this represents exceedingly good value for money. It's one of the signature aspects of their offerings - almost unbelievable high quality for the price.

 Luxurious blend of Grande and Petite Champagne eaux-de-vie aged up to 25 years. With rich notes of dried apricot, vanilla, toffee, and a smooth, lingering finish, this refined Cognac makes a memorable gift for any occasion.

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