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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.

94 Points — James Suckling
93 Points — Wine Spectator
92 Points — Wine Advocate

Geoffroy “Les Tiersaudes” 2019 is an exceptionally limited, single-vineyard Champagne produced entirely from old-vine Meunier grown in Cumières Premier Cru. Fermented and matured in large oak barrels and bottled without dosage, it is a powerful yet precise Blanc de Noirs with concentrated fruit, electric acidity and a distinctly saline mineral finish.

The Vineyard

Les Tiersaudes is a southeast-facing lieu-dit situated on the midslope in the heart of Cumières, in Champagne’s Vallée de la Marne. The parcel lies at approximately 140 meters above sea level on a 15% gradient, with soils composed of fine silt, limestone and flint.

The Meunier vines were planted in 1972 from massale selection. Geoffroy cultivates the parcel biodynamically and has introduced apple, mirabelle, maple, hornbeam and lime trees among the vines to increase biodiversity, encourage soil life and provide natural shade during increasingly warm growing seasons.

The Grape: 100% Meunier.

Although “Blanc de Noirs” is often associated with Pinot Noir, the term refers to any white Champagne made from dark-skinned grapes. Here, Meunier provides ripe fruit, breadth and aromatic complexity while the cool, limestone-influenced soils of Les Tiersaudes preserve freshness and mineral tension.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness and carefully sorted. They are 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 in 600-liter oak demi-muids. Malolactic fermentation is avoided, helping retain the wine’s vibrant natural acidity. It is neither fined nor filtered.

No dosage is added following disgorgement, making this a true Brut Nature Champagne with 0 grams per liter of added sugar.

Tasting Notes

The bouquet combines orange marmalade, juicy peach and fresh hazelnut with pear, honeysuckle, grapefruit, dried flowers and gentle spice.

The palate is concentrated and vinous, showing cassis, candied kumquat, ripe citrus and dried fruit. Structured acidity provides a firm backbone, while a plush, finely textured mousse gives the wine breadth and balance.

Notes of toasted bread, crystallized honey, gooseberry and lime emerge with air. A persistent streak of salinity refreshes the long, lemon-tinged finish, leaving the wine rich yet energetic, silky and precise.

Professional Ratings

94 Points — James Suckling: "This bright, dry and lively Champagne shows raspberries, oranges, candied ginger and dried flowers on the nose. Delightfully fruity and spicy, with tension and energy. I like it a lot. Disgorged March 2024. Drink now or hold."

93 Points — Wine Spectator: "A well-built Champagne, with structured acidity providing a firm frame for concentrated flavors of cassis, candied kumquat, toasted raisin bread and crystallized honey. Theres a cottony plushness to the mousse, while a streak of salinity refreshes the racy finish. Disgorged March 2024. 231 cases made, 13 cases imported. - AN"

92 Points — Wine Advocate: "Geoffroy™s 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs Les Tiersaudes, disgorged without dosage in March 2024, originates from old-vine Pinot Meunier"planted in 1972"on a south-facing mid-slope in the heart of Cumieres. These vines thrive on deeper soils compared to those of Les Collinardins. Aged for one year in oak, mostly demi-muids, this Champagne unveils an aromatic profile of pear, honeysuckle and grapefruit intertwined with notes of gooseberry and lime. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, muscular yet incisive, with a concentrated core of fruit underpinned by electric acidity, concluding with a long, lemon-tinged 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, indigenous-yeast fermentation, restrained dosage and extended cellar aging.

Food Pairing

This structured, gastronomic Champagne pairs beautifully with roast pork, duck, poultry, grilled salmon, seared tuna, scallops, mushroom dishes and aged cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. The 2019 is expressive now but has the concentration and acidity to develop additional toasted-nut, honeyed and savory complexity through 2039.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Lieu-Dit Les Tiersaudes
Vintage: 2019
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature Champagne
Grape: 100% Meunier
Vineyard: Les Tiersaudes
Vine Age: Planted in 1972
Exposure: Southeast
Altitude: Approximately 140 meters
Soil: Fine silt, limestone and flint
Farming: Practicing biodynamic with agroforestry
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in 600-liter oak demi-muids
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Dosage: 0 g/L
Fining and Filtration: Neither fined nor filtered
Disgorgement: March 2024 for the reviewed release
Bottle Size: 750ml

Geoffroy “Lieu-Dit Les Tiersaudes” Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut Nature 2019

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 100 Points | The 2022 Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru is a real head-turner. What a wine! As is so often the case, Romanée St. Vivant is not an obvious wine, rather it is a Burgundy of detail, of understatement, of total class. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. Silky tannins wrap around a core of red-toned fruit, mint, white pepper, blood orange and exotic spice.

Decanter 97 Points | The Romanée-St-Vivant has developed more complexity since bottling, with a savoury, almost gamey edge to the lush berry fruit aromas and a hint of spice. The grip and freshness of the wine are impressive and seem to carry this wine to a new level of intensity. Although this wine had originally seemed ethereal and silky, the substantial nature of the structure is now evident, aided perhaps by the stricter selection. Bertrand de Villaine confirms that two parcels in this vineyard were pulled up due to issues with the rootstock, leaving them 23,699 bottles in 2022.

The Wine Spectator 97 Points | Shy, suggesting cherry, strawberry and spice flavors. Nonetheless, there is plenty of structure and length.

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

Vinous 94 Points | This perfumed beauty displays fireworks in a glass with its kaleidoscopic nose of super spicy, floral and cool red and dark berry nose. The middle weight flavors are less concentrated and powerful than those of the Grands Ech but markedly finer with a caressing and sophisticated mouthfeel that carries over to the rich finish that once again tightens up noticeably on the impeccably well-balanced and strikingly persistent finish. While at least some patience will also be required this classy effort should be approachable sooner than the Grands Ech. 

Winemaker Description 

Liatiko variety gives us delicate and light wines with ruby colour. We suggest you try it in a burgundy shape glass that perfectly unfolds its aromas. It has concentrated aromas of fresh red fruits, herbs and light floral aromas.

As it ages, develops a unique bouquet of ripe fruits, leather and spices. It has light body, good acidity, soft and delicious tannins and long aftertaste, traits that portrait it as a very elegant wine.

The Douloufakis "Dafnios" Liatiko 2021 is a standout example of Crete's indigenous red grape, Liatiko. Produced in the village of Dafnés by Nikolas Douloufakis, this wine is often compared to Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo due to its lighter color and elegant, aromatic profile.

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.

Winemaker Description 

This vintage is the fruit of setting up my establishment. It embodies my doubts, my
fears, my mistakes, my great joy, my passion, my convictions.

This wine plot is located on a rocky outcrop, on the summit of the Palais Mount. Its name comes from the Latin word “barra”, copied from the Gallic “barro” which means
“elevation, summit, peak”. Chalky brown soils, clay-limestone subsoils. Located at 300 meters high, on a plateau.

There is a forest which occupies the ridge of the mountain which protects and shelters the vineyard from the wind. This cool environment helps to produce the floral and aromatic character plus the freshness of the wines.

Fresh white fruits aromas accompanied by floral touches and mineral notes. It leaves a fresh cool taste in mouth and blends together a tonic effect with smoothness. This tense and invigorating juice leaves a long-lasting intense sensation in the mouth. The end result is remarkable thanks to the aromatic, sapid and well-delineated finality. 

Memo Summary Notes

The Domaine Ninot Rully "La Barre" Blanc 2022 is a bright, organic expression of Chardonnay from the Côte Chalonnaise, crafted by the talented Erell Ninot, who was previously named "Best Young Winemaker" in Burgundy.

A classic partner for poultry in creamy sauces (Blanquette de veau), grilled sea bass, or scallops. It also pairs wonderfully with regional cheeses like Comté or mild Gruyère.
 

Generous in fruit and beautifully fresh, Gérard Boulay’s Chavignol Tradition Blanc offers an inviting introduction to one of Sancerre’s most respected domaines. Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on the limestone-rich slopes of Chavignol, this expressive white brings together ripe fruit, supple texture and the mineral character that defines Boulay’s wines.

The 2025 is open and aromatic, with ripe citrus, white stone fruit and subtle herbal nuances. The palate is rounded and harmonious, offering satisfying depth balanced by lively freshness. A chalky, saline character adds definition, carrying the fruit into a long, mouthwatering finish. It is a welcoming Sancerre with enough complexity to keep every glass interesting.

Sourced from several parcels within Chavignol, the Tradition cuvée reflects the village’s distinctive Kimmeridgian soils. Fermented naturally without added yeasts and aged in tank, it preserves the clarity of its fruit and the character of its vineyard origins.

The Boulay family’s winegrowing roots in Chavignol date back to 1380. Gérard has farmed organically since 1990 and harvests entirely by hand, bringing the same careful attention to this village cuvée as to the domaine’s celebrated single-vineyard wines.

Enjoy as an aperitif or pair with oysters, grilled shrimp, roast fish, herb-seasoned chicken or fresh goat cheese. Particularly inviting in its youth, the 2025 offers a delicious balance of ripe fruit and refreshing energy—a versatile choice for both relaxed evenings and the dinner table.

Winemaker Description 

Bright soft-hued ruby. Delicately fruity on the nose reminiscent of cherry and toasted almonds, juicy on the palate, extremely “quaffable” and elegant on the
finish.

Memo Summary Notes

The Manincor "der Keil" Lago di Caldaro 2023 is a benchmark example of Schiava (also known as Vernatsch) from South Tyrol (Alto Adige), Italy. Produced by the Manincor estate—a leader in biodynamic and organic viticulture—this wine is sourced from the historical "der Keil" vineyard (a monopole), where old vines overlook the Lake of Kaltern.

It is often described as the perfect "bridge" wine for those who enjoy the elegance of Pinot Noir but want the crunchy, spicy character of northern Italy.

• Traditional Pairing: South Tyrolean Speck (cured ham) and local cheeses.

• Modern Pairing: It is one of the few reds that pairs beautifully with fried fish, tomato-based pasta, or even Cantonese cuisine.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

The 2023 vintage is receiving high praise for its focus and "crunchy" fruit:

• Decanter: 92 Points – "A lightly edgy nose of nutmeg-dusted red fruit... fleshy, balanced palate with juicy raspberry."

• Wine Enthusiast: 91 Points – "Tart cranberries, pomegranate, and red apple skin... delivers a fresh, lively wine with a peppery edge."

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Jasper Morris 93 Points | An attractive mid crimson colour. A fine fresh bouquet, elegant fruit, not too demonstrative, but with a graceful detailed red fruit, alpine strawberry and little raspberry notes. Very nicely put together, all about the fruit more than the structure. Drink from 2030-2037.

Winemaker Description 

Supreme elegance! Beautiful color, with intense and bright reflections. The diversity of the aromas is striking: wild cherry, nutmeg, camphor wood, fine leather... Later on, the wine takes on a subtle aroma of truffle, producing the most varied palette. With its perfect balance between tannin and acidity, the wine has a fleshy, sturdy body. Powerful and long aftertaste. A wealth of harmonious sensations characterizes this great Burgundy.

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

IASA Filetto di Branzino Grigliato — Grilled Sea Bass in Olive Oil, Campania, Italy (5.11 oz)

IASA is one of Campania’s most celebrated artisan producers, best known for their exceptional Italian anchovy products — and their Filetto di Branzino Grigliato brings that same philosophy of quality and tradition to Mediterranean sea bass. Branzino — long prized across Europe and a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet — is celebrated for its pristine white fillets and delicate, slightly sweet flavor. IASA sources sustainably farmed branzino from the waters off the coast of Campania, cleans and gently grills each fillet by hand, then packs them in tins with mild olive oil — a recipe that is a direct homage to the tradition of fishermen grilling fresh-caught branzino and drenching the fillets in olive oil straight from the fire. The result won the 2018 Specialty Food Association sofi™ Award for Best New Product — one of the food industry’s most prestigious honors.

The fillets are tender and delicate with a subtle smokiness from the grilling, a clean, slightly sweet sea bass flavor, and a richness from the olive oil that ties everything together. Serve straight from the tin over crostini, flaked into pasta, alongside a simple green salad, or as the centerpiece of an antipasto spread. It is the kind of pantry staple that elevates every occasion.

2018 Specialty Food Association sofi™ Award — Best New Product & Silver Award Winner

• Producer: IASA, Campania, Italy
• Fish: Sustainably farmed Mediterranean sea bass (Branzino)
• Preparation: Hand-cleaned, gently grilled, hand-packed in olive oil
• Net Weight: 5.11 oz (145g)
• Best Served: Over crostini, flaked into pasta, antipasto boards, or alongside a crisp white wine
• Vendor: 67Gourmet

92 Points - Wine Spectator
89-91 Points - Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy

Two vineyards. Two soils. One seamless expression of Meursault. Domaine Clos de la Chapelle's 2023 Cuvee Confluence draws from En Marcausse and Les Vignes Blanches, contiguous lieux-dits whose contrasting geology gives this village-level Chardonnay a complexity that rivals many a Premier Cru. Clay-driven richness meets limestone-driven tension, and the result is a white Burgundy of genuine depth, harmony and length.

The Place

Meursault occupies the heart of the Cote de Beaune, flanked by Volnay to the north and Puligny-Montrachet to the south. It is one of Burgundy's most celebrated white-wine villages, internationally recognized for Chardonnay that combines generous orchard fruit, hazelnut complexity and a pronounced limestone-derived mineral character with vibrant, food-friendly acidity.

Although Meursault has no Grand Cru vineyards, its finest Premier Cru and village-level climats produce some of Burgundy's most distinctive and age-worthy whites. The appellation encompasses approximately 382.64 hectares of white-wine production, including 103.79 hectares of Premier Cru, planted predominantly to Chardonnay in a complex mosaic of limestone, marl, clay and gravel.

The Meaning of Cuvee Confluence

The name Confluence speaks to a meeting of opposites: old vines and young, two adjoining vineyards, two distinct but complementary terroirs. Although En Marcausse and Les Vignes Blanches share a boundary, the soil composition shifts noticeably at the point where one vineyard meets the other, and it is precisely this contrast that defines the wine.

The Vineyards

En Marcausse lies immediately below Les Petits Charrons on the Meursault slope. Natural drainage is encouraged by a break in the topography, while the vineyard's higher clay content contributes body, texture and breadth to the finished wine. The domaine farms approximately 0.20 hectare here.

Les Vignes Blanches takes its name from the pale, gravelly limestone that characterizes the site. These chalkier soils deliver greater mineral tension, freshness and precision. The domaine holds approximately 0.41 hectare, farmed from both younger and older vines. For the 2023 vintage, Jasper Morris noted that a section previously planted to Pinot Noir has been top-grafted to Chardonnay, a change that will further strengthen the domaine's white-wine holdings from 2025 onward.

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay

Chardonnay is uniquely sensitive to variations in soil, elevation and exposure. In the limestone and clay soils of Meursault, it produces wines of generous orchard-fruit character, citrus freshness, hazelnut complexity and a distinct mineral or saline undertone. In Cuvee Confluence, it expresses both sides of the blend simultaneously: the rounded texture and ripeness of clay-rich En Marcausse, and the citrus-driven freshness and chalky tension of Les Vignes Blanches.

Viticulture and Winemaking

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle's vineyards are certified organic and cultivated according to biodynamic principles. Soils are worked regularly, chemical pesticides and fertilizers are avoided, and yields are carefully controlled to encourage concentration and a clear expression of each individual site.

Grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Vinification is conducted with minimal intervention, allowing the contrasting personalities of En Marcausse and Les Vignes Blanches to remain visible in the finished wine. Fermentation and maturation in oak barrels add texture and complexity, with restrained notes of toast, vanilla and spice that integrate into rather than dominate the wine's fruit and mineral core.

Tasting Notes

The 2023 Cuvee Confluence opens with aromas of ripe peach, yellow apple and pear, lifted by citrus peel, white flowers, toasted hazelnut and a delicate oak influence. The palate is supple, juicy and harmonious, with flavors of peach, apple tart and ripe citrus framed by oyster-shell salinity and finely integrated toasted oak. The clay-rich component contributes roundness and depth; the limestone soils bring acidity, mineral tension and focus. Subtle notes of vanilla, butterscotch and hazelnut emerge toward the finish. Despite its generous fruit and texture, the wine remains fresh and balanced, concluding with impressive harmony, mineral persistence and length.

Professional Ratings

92 Points - Wine Spectator: This beautifully integrated white features peach, apple tart and oyster shell flavors framed with toasty oak. Supple and juicy, this ends with echoes of vanilla and butterscotch. Shows excellent harmony and length.

89-91 Points - Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy (Barrel Sample): The Cuvee Confluence comes from the top of Vignes Blanches and Marcausses, where the pinot part has now been top-grafted to chardonnay (which will really deliver from 2025). Mid lemon yellow. A pleasing fruit on the cusp between white and yellow, decent acidity, some length, not quite the flow which gave me such pleasure in the Vignes Blanches.

The Domaine

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is a small, historic Cote de Beaune estate based in Bligny-les-Beaune, closely associated with the renowned village of Volnay. It takes its name from the Volnay Premier Cru Clos de la Chapelle monopole, a walled vineyard situated opposite the historic chapel of Notre Dame de Pitie, acquired in 2011 and renamed in honor of its flagship terroir.

Today the estate farms approximately five hectares across 16 individual terroirs in Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Meursault and Corton. All vineyards are certified organic and farmed biodynamically. Grapes are harvested by hand, yields are kept low and cellar intervention is minimized. Total production averages only approximately 1,800 cases annually, making each bottling highly limited.

Food Pairing

Cuvee Confluence is an excellent partner for roast chicken, sole meuniere, halibut with brown butter, sea bass, scallops and lobster ravioli. It also pairs beautifully with creamy mushroom dishes, risotto, pork tenderloin, veal in a light cream sauce and mature cheeses such as Comte or Gruyere.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 16 degrees C (61 degrees F). Slightly cooler service will emphasize citrus and mineral character; allowing the wine to warm gradually in the glass will reveal additional texture, hazelnut and oak-spice complexity. The 2023 is expressive enough to enjoy young with a little air, but its acidity and mineral structure should support several years of further development in the cellar.

Producer: Domaine Clos de la Chapelle
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Cote de Beaune
Village: Meursault
Appellation: Meursault AOC
Classification: Village
Cuvee: Cuvee Confluence
Vineyard Sources: En Marcausse and Les Vignes Blanches
Source Parcels: Approximately 0.61 hectare combined
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Soils: Clay-rich (En Marcausse); pale gravelly limestone (Les Vignes Blanches)
Farming: Certified organic; biodynamic principles
Harvest: Hand harvested
Wine Type: Dry white wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

93+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck
92 Points — James Suckling

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

The Place

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

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay

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

Winemaking

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

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

Tasting Notes

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

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

Professional Ratings

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

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

The Producer

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

Food Pairing

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

Serving and Cellaring

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

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

Elegant, expressive and beautifully textured, Gérard Boulay’s Monts Damnés captures the character of one of Sancerre’s most celebrated vineyards. Crafted from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on the steep hillsides of Chavignol, this distinctive white combines ripe fruit, floral finesse and a persistent mineral finish.

The south-facing Monts Damnés vineyard benefits from excellent sun exposure and pale, reflective soils, making it one of Chavignol’s warmer sites. Its limestone-rich Kimmeridgian terroir provides the foundation for a wine of depth and definition, balancing generous fruit with the freshness and structure that distinguish Boulay’s finest bottlings.

The 2024 is particularly elegant and aromatic, with floral notes accompanying ripe citrus and orchard fruit. A finely chalky texture gives the palate shape, while lively acidity brings brightness and lift. Subtle saline nuances carry through the long, stony finish, creating a Sancerre that feels both substantial and graceful.

The Boulay family’s winegrowing history in Chavignol dates back to 1380. Gérard has farmed organically since 1990 and harvests entirely by hand. Natural fermentation and maturation in neutral vessels reflect a restrained approach that allows the vineyard’s individual character to emerge without overt oak influence.

Pair with grilled fish, seared scallops, roast chicken or Crottin de Chavignol goat cheese. Allow the wine time to unfold in the glass when young, or cellar it to explore the additional depth and complexity that make Boulay’s single-vineyard Sancerres so rewarding.

Expert Rating

Vinous 93 Points | Done in a floral, finely aromatic style that’s both elegant and perfumed, the 2024 Monts Damnés is ripe, but there’s no shortage of acidity. It leaves a lip-smacking, bright finish as if someone’s just played a triangle, or the clouds have parted and the angels are singing a top note. Textbook chalky texture elevates this wine, making for a very classic style.

Col d’Orcia · Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020

One of Montalcino’s original estates, Col d’Orcia is known for a traditional approach that lets Sangiovese lead. The estate’s limestone and marl vineyards sit about 1,500 feet above sea level between the Orcia River and Sant’Angelo in Colle. In 2020, a frost-free winter and dry spring were followed by summer rain that supported ripening; the Consorzio del Brunello and a panel of Masters of Wine rated the vintage five stars.

The hand-harvested grapes fermented for 18–20 days in temperature-controlled, shallow stainless-steel tanks. The wine aged three years in large Slavonian and Allier oak casks, then a year in bottle. Expect ripe cherry and sour cherry, hints of jam, vanilla and light toast, balanced tannins, and a savory, persistent finish.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate · 94 points · 2020: The organic Col d'Orcia 2020 Brunello di Montalcino offers a classic Sangiovese bouquet with warm-vintage intensity. It shows sweet aromas of raspberry tart and cooked cherry. There is a delicate element of smoked spice at the back. The tannins are open-knit, and the wine offers immediate drinking pleasure. It should be exciting to follow this wine's future evolution. “We try to protect the freshness of Sangiovese,” says Count Francesco Marone Cinzano. “That is our reading of traditional Brunello.”

Decanter · 93 points · 2020: Among Montalcino’s larger estates, Col d’Orcia is also one of the region’s most consistent values – especially given its solid ageing potential in most vintages. The 2020 is no exception. There is a captivating sumptuousness to the nose as it radiates lush red cherries and strawberry bush. With air, an underlying flintiness emerges, as well as a mix of sweet garden and exotic herbs. A surprisingly hefty structure of dry, sandy tannins curbs its generosity, while leather and orange lurk through the stony core. Somewhat muddled now, but harmony is within sight.

Jeb Dunnuck · 93 points · 2020: A saturated red color, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino was aged three years in barrel and captures the richness of the southern sector while staying pure and energetic. It offers ripe aromatics of black cherries, dried herbs, leather, and dark earth. Medium to full-bodied, it has ripe tannins, bright acidity, and a savory finish with a touch of warmth.

James Suckling · 93 points · 2020: A fresh and refined red with plum and orange character, as well as fine tannins. It’s medium-bodied, lively and focused. A little tight at the end, suggesting two or three years will allow it to open. A more traditional Brunello here. Drink after 2027.

Vinous · 92 points · 2020: The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino opens slowly with a blend of black cherry and minty herb scents elevated by hints of blood orange. It displays silky textures and a lifted feel, with tart wild berry fruit aromas and mineral tones accentuated by rosy inner florals. The 2020 imparts edgy tannins offset by a tinge of zesty acidity.

Wine Spectator · 92 points · 2020: Balsamic notes of tomato leaf, juniper and thyme rub shoulders with strawberry, cherry, blood orange and earth in this dry, elegant red. Ends firmly, with lightly chewy tannins and a mouthwatering feel. Best from 2027 through 2042.

• Producer: Col d’Orcia
• Wine: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
• Vintage: 2020
• Grape: 100% Sangiovese
• Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
• Style: Organic red wine
• Size: 750ml

A classic, cellar-worthy Brunello, balancing generous Sangiovese fruit with savory depth and traditional oak aging.

Winemaker Description

A classic Pommard with a good structure. A complex nose with hints of red fruits, spices and flowers. The mouth is well balanced and structured, with ripe and sweet tannins. 

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

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

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

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

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

94 Points — Vinous

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

— Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 94 Points

Wine Details

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

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

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The San Felice 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Grigio (made with 80% Sangiovese and 20% complementary indigenous grapes) stands out due to its velvety richness and expressive flavor profile. The wine delivers measured intensity with bright purple and black fruits, a good sense of energy and drive, and some lingering spiciness on the close. It is rich but not heavy.

James Suckling 93 Points | This is spiced and racy with dark cherries, currants, savory herbs, walnuts and sandalwood. Medium- to full-bodied with ripe, powdery tannins, juicy acidity and a mineral backbone on the palate. Bright and fruit-forward in the finish. Drink or hold.

A Limited Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir from Arroyo Seco, Monterey County

“Balade” is French for wandering — a fitting name for Belle Glos’s annual exploration of the most compelling single-vineyard Pinot Noir blocks on the West Coast. Each vintage, only the most nuanced and expressive block is selected for this limited bottling. The 2022 comes from the Arroyo Seco appellation in Monterey County, delivering dark purple-violet tones, enticing blackberry and boysenberry aromas, and a palate of black cherry, wild blackberry, and jammy plum with beautiful acidity and a long, mouthwatering finish.

Expert Reviews

• Wine Enthusiast (Matt Kettmann) — 92 pts: Dried cherry, baked plum and a full spice rack of aromas on the nose. Tense, slightly sappy tannins frame the sip, where black plum, stewed cherry and bay leaf flavors lead into a wood smoke-kissed finish. (Vintage 2022). 

Winemaker Notes

Belle Glos Pinot Noir BALADE Single Survey Arroyo Seco Monterey County 2022 750ml

Dark purple-violet in color with enticing aromas of blackberry and boysenberry. Sophisticated on the palate with flavors of black cherry, wild blackberry, and jammy plum. Balanced and structured with beautiful acidity that lingers through to a long, mouthwatering finish.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Appellation: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California
• Producer: Belle Glos
• Vintage: 2022
• Bottling: Limited Single-Vineyard Release
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A versatile partner at the table — exceptional with roasted duck, grilled salmon, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, pork tenderloin, and aged cheeses.

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.