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A Tour of Champagne in 6 Bottles
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We have assembled this selection of 6 Champagnes to bring you a sampler of all that is best and all that is changing in Champagne.
It is an extraordinarily dynamic time for this prestigious and deeply traditional area. The vineyard area is huge, from Reims to the Cote de Bar, even at a good clip, it takes a good two hours to traverse the 125 miles. The soils range from the pure chalk in the north to Kimmeridgian, the mix of clay and marl on the border with Chablis in the south. Seven grapes are allowed, and where it is all about the blend in the Vallée de la Marne, it is all about single terroirs, single vintages and varietal wines, in many of the less-established and up-and-coming areas off the beaten track.
With all that going on, it is impossible to really put every aspect on display in just 6 bottles, but we think this set goes a long way to show-casing many of the most important innovations and directions that the 'growers' movement has taken champagne over the last 20 years.
6 Bottle Set for $395 - In Stock Now
Also Available Individully at Prices Listed Below
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Marguet Shaman Brut Nature 2018
$60 per bottle
Benoit Marguet is one of the hot names, maybe the hottest name in Champagne right now. He has associations with several other trendy growers and gets talked about a lot. He's in Ambonnay in pinot country on the Montagne. The Shaman Brut Nature is indeed a pinot dominated blend and entirely grand cru from Ambonnay or Bouzy. Historically, blanc de noir was not well suited to the austerity of brut nature , but with an extra degree or two of ripeness in the base wines and attention to detail in the vineyards, they are becoming some of the most compelling champagnes of all.
Seleque Extra Brut Solessence
$50 per bottle
High quality grower's own house from the Vallee de la Marne with a tip-top reputation. This is all about the blend, as it should be in the Vallée, 50% Chard, 40 Meunier, 10 Pinot Noir.
This wine is officially Extra Brut but that's essentially the norm these days. It's a good example of how the Vallée can bring all the various disparate elements of champagne together in a blend that is more than the sum of the parts. It has exotic ripe citrus notes but perfectly firm acidity and substantial texture without being overtly rich.
It's a great demonstration of what is now available at $50. The old Grande Marque NVs could never compete at this level.
92+ points View From the Cellar: "The new release of Jean-Marc Sélèque’s “Solessence” Extra Brut Rosé is Lot 2016 and obviously, hails from that vintage. It is comprised of a blend of forty-five percent chardonnay, forty percent pinot meunier and fifteen percent pinot noir and was disgorged in July of 2018, with a finishing dosage of three grams per liter. The wine is superb on both the nose and palate, with the bouquet delivering a fine combination of strawberries, rhubarb, orange zest, chalky soil tones, rye bread and a topnote of dried rose petals. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a rock solid core, frothy mousse and great length and grip on the complex and focused finish. This is first class Rosé! (Drink between 2019-2045)"
Laherte Rose de Saignee Les Beaudiers 2018
$85 per bottle
Aurelien-Laherte is one of the leading lights of the growers movement. His reputation is built on his exemplary and meticulous farming of an array of great sites. The winery is in Chavot, which is essentially the border of the Vallee and the Cote de Blancs but he has vineyards in various locations. The Beaudiers is a rosé de saignée and super-vinous and rich and therefore not really a great example of Laherte's careful style, but it is a really good and dramatic rose, and we must have a rosé in this array.
Marc Hebrart Special Club 2018
$75 per bottle
You cannot have a sampler that does not pay hommage to the Club Tresors, a self- selecting group of growers who assemble their 'Special Club' releases each year. They are tasted and tested for approval by their peers before release. This is a great year, and an excellent Special Club.
Varnier-Fanniere Brut Grand Vintage 2013
$85 per bottle
Entirely grand cru Cotes de Blanc Chardonnay from Avize and Oger from a wonderful vintage, released with age, after about 6 years on the lees. This is a classy, somewhat old-school Blanc de Blancs, dry crisp and elegant rather than an exoptic blockbuster. Everything they do here is good, classy and classic.
94 points Vinous: "The 2013 Brut Grand Vintage captures all the depth and intensity of this great Côtes des Blancs vintage. Citrus, graphite, dried flowers, almonds and savory herbs are all amplified in a Champagne of tremendous breadth and transparency. Hints of apricot, tangerine oil and lemon confit linger on the exotic finish. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: April 19, 2021. (Drink between 2021-2027)"
Nathalie Falmet Brut Le Val Cornet 2017
$50 per bottle
Nathalie Falmet represents the Cote de Bar, down in the south of the region, closer to Chablis than to Reims. The soils too are more Kimmeridgian than pure chalk. The dynamic producers here are looking first to express the terroir of their best sites through single vintage wines. This is where Cedric Bouchard has blown the doors off everyone's prejudice and preconceptions. Falmet's wines are in that broadly vinous and wild rich style- Burgundy with bubbles. The Val Cornet is planted roughly 50/50 Pinot Noir and Meunier and an affordable look-in at these styles.
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Requirements
- Subject to final confirmation and remaining unsold
- Orders will be confirmed as received; please allow time for processing
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