Lelarge Pugeot Rose
$99.99
The Lelarge family owned their first parcels in 1799, after Pierre-Henri Lelarge, married Madeleine Dravigny, the daughter of a winegrower family in Vrigny. Throughout many generations, the descendants of Pierre-Henri shared their commitment to the terroir of Champagne and the work of vigneron. In 1983 Dominique Lalarge takes off to Beaune in Burgundy to study viticulture and oenology where he met his future wife, Dominique Pugeot. A few years later, the couple takes over the winery, which then became Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot. By 2017 the 7th and 8th generations are working together. Valentin, the middle child joined the team in 2015. Another great news for this new year, the winery is certified biodynamic (Demeter).
Lelarge Pugeot Cest Cure
$89.99
The Lelarge family owned their first parcels in 1799, after Pierre-Henri Lelarge, married Madeleine Dravigny, the daughter of a winegrower family in Vrigny. Throughout many generations, the descendants of Pierre-Henri shared their commitment to the terroir of Champagne and the work of vigneron. In 1983 Dominique Lalarge takes off to Beaune in Burgundy to study viticulture and oenology where he met his future wife, Dominique Pugeot. A few years later, the couple takes over the winery, which then became Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot. By 2017 the 7th and 8th generations are working together. Valentin, the middle child joined the team in 2015. Another great news for this new year, the winery is certified biodynamic (Demeter).
Philipponnat 0 Dosage Royal Reserve 2017
$92.99
This prestigous domaine and family has been producing Champagne for over 500 years. The name of Royal Réserve goes back to the ancestors of the Philipponnat family, vineyard owners, wine-merchants and winemakers, suppliers to Louis XIV, magistrates and Royal Mayors of Ay. Ity's a blend of 65% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Meunier. First press juice of mainly Grand and Premier Crus grapes from the heart of the Champagne wine-growing area. 20 to 30% of reserve wines are aged in wooden barrels using the solera system to incorporate older wines without losing freshness.
JM Seleque Solessence Nature
$78.99
Henri Sélèque planted vines in the 1960s on the renowned terroirs of Moussy and Pierry and began bottling his wines in 1969. Richard, his son, an oenologist, brought the property into the era of modernity and technical precision, while expanding the family wine heritage. Since 2008, Jean-Marc, the third generation and an advocate for more ecologically balanced viticulture, has anchored his production in the search for authenticity and expression of terroirs. There's no splashy chateau here, the winery consists of a few basic struct5ures; the real investment is in the vineyards and winemaking. This is a blend of 50 % Chardonnay, 40 % Meunier, and 10% Pinot Noir, A portion of the wine (30%) is aged in oak with the balance in stainless steel tanks.stainless steel tanks and without fining or filtration. It's brut nature so no sugar is added.
Bailly Lapierre Cremant Bourgogne
$31.99
Cremant is the name given to French sparkling wines that are made in the same method as Champagne but outside of the Champagne area. The term cremant will be followed by the region, so in the case of Cremant de Bourgogne it means "champagne-styled wine from Burgundy". A blend of four classic grapes - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay, and Aligote - it makes for a super easy-drinking, congenial, rounded and fully sparkling wine with an expressive bouquet both on the nose and pallet, a perfect addition to a light breakfast or elegant dinner.
Clotilde Blanc de Blancs
$94.99
Clotilde is an homage to the first queen of France, is a Blanc de Blanc Cuvee from the Grand Cru vineyards of Michel Turgy in Les Mesnil – Sur – Oger. The steeple on the label is a replica of the church where her relics are held at the Eglise Saint-Leu-Saint Gilles de Paris. This Champagne is a joint venture between US importer Kimberly Jones and Jean-Michel Turgy. Quietly in the shadows of the larger houses of the Côte de Blancs, vine-growing Champagne artisans such as Jean-Michel Turgy are crafting character-rich, memorable wines based on the traditions and passions of past winemaking generations. Turgy sets himself apart with wines that do more than just reflect the Mesnil style—sumptuous, sensual and richly flavored—but faithfully capture the true character of the region’s unparalleled terroir, a personality often muted by mass-producing Champagne houses. For more than 130 years, the Turgy family has grown and harvested Chardonnay grapes on these chalky soils, and because of this, they can certainly claim to be more than acquainted with the true soul and substance of Mesnil. Only 200 cases made.
Only 200 cases were made.
Louis Roederer Collection
$146.99
When he inherited the Champagne House in 1833, the aesthete and entrepreneur Louis Roederer took a visionary approach to enriching his vines, aiming to master every stage of the wine’s creation. He forged the wine’s unique style, character, and taste. In the mid-nineteenth century, Louis Roederer acquired some of Champagne’s grand cru vineyards—an approach that contrasted sharply with contemporary practices..
While other Houses bought their grapes, Louis Roederer nurtured his vineyards, familiarized himself with the specific characteristics of each parcel, and methodically acquired the finest land. Louis Roederer’s guiding principle was that all great wine depends on the quality of the soil, a passion for tradition, and an astute vision of the future; the fame and reputation of the House of Louis Roederer was firmly established. His heir, Louis Roederer II was equally enlightened and adopted his father’s conscientious approach to the production of champagne, patrimonial estate management, and instinctive audacity. In 1845, Louis Roederer acquired 15 hectares in the Grand Cru vineyards of Verzenay. The idea—which was quite unusual at a time when grapes had little value—was to become a wine grower in order to master the entire process of creating his vintage wines. Ever since, every Louis Roederer vintage originates exclusively from our own vines, which is rare indeed in the Champagne region. The quest for a diversity of terroirs, crus, parcels, and grape varieties in the vineyards (or climats to use the Burgundian expression) was rapidly integrated by the House of Louis Roederer. A groundbreaking strategy was implemented, which involved buying specific parcels selected for their capacity to produce distinctive wines. This strategy is still a core component of the House’s continuing development. In 2013, Louis Roederer’s vineyards stretched across 240 hectares and includes 410 parcels.
Vallein Tercinier Pet Champ 1958 Cognac
$699.99
This 65 year old Petite Champagne Cognac was bottled for Heads & Tails by Vallein Tercinier at 48.4%. A sister cask to this one got 93pts from Serge @ Whisky Fun.
Christophe Mignon Foudre Champagne
$131.99
According to Antonio Galloni of Vinous Wine Journal, “Christophe Mignon might very well be the finest grower in Champagne most people have not heard about, yet.” Galloni may have a point. Located just outside the tiny village of Festigny, Mignon farms a mere 6 ha, planted almost exclusively to Pinot Meunier. The vines were planted by his great-grandparents and are spread among thirty parcels between the villages of Le Breuil and Festigny in the Vallee de la Marne.
Mignon has practiced biodynamics for 16 years , allowing the moon’s cycles to dictate his work in the vineyards and in the cellar. Harvests adhere strictly to this calendar, as do tirage and disgorgement. In essence, Mignon strives to follow the rhythm of nature and this informs each decision he makes. While this might seem a tad esoteric to some, the results are well worth the potential befuddlement.
For the most part, Christophe does all the primary fermentation in stainless steel with ambient yeasts, while only the reserve wine is held in oak foudre. He strives to vinify each parcel in a separate tank in order to distinguish the unique qualities of each micro-climate. The non-vintage Champagnes spend a minimum of 24 months in bottle before disgorgement, while the vintage wines may spend as long as five or six years. Christophe uses the bare minimum of sulphur at bottling and the majority of his cuvees are bottled without any dosage. The resulting wines offer a delightful balance between intellectual and visceral enjoyment. They are at once vinous and rich, with complex brioche notes and herbal inflections, but also fresh and simply enjoyable. While Christophe may have a very complex philosophy, he also believes that Champagne should be enjoyed and not fawned over.