Look, there’s a reason the “Blowout Champagne Sale” isn’t really a thing.
Apart from the time, care and cost of materially producing the stuff, just the word itself’s longstanding association with luxury, largesse and expense pretty much ensures prices must be perpetually on the rise. And this is of course doubly true whenever ‘inflation’ bubbles to the surface of our collective concerns.
But you already know this - and probably didn’t join a Champagne club for the musings on macro - so the point is: this month, with tax day behind us (yay!) and the future forever uncertain, we thought the time just right to spotlight two relatively affordable bottlings, traveling savoir faire both, that make it much easier to savor the moment at hand.
Speaking of: the first comes from the oldest cooperative in Champagne; the second is the result of persistent and labor intensive effort to refine and expand the reputation of a particular region.
A perfect pair for May Day, in other words.
Cheers!
The PlumpJack Family
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Champagne Collet Brut Art Deco NV |
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From: Ay, Marne Valley, Champagne |
About the Winery: Domaine du Collet is the oldest cooperative in Champagne. Founded in 1921 in the grand cru village of Ay by a group of local farmers incensed that grapes imported from North Africa were making their way into Champagne bottles - and still smarting from catastrophes global (The First World War) and local (phylloxera) - it was originally named Champagne Raoul Collet, after the primary founder. Today it is the 4th largest (of 130 total) such concern in France, with 800 grower/members across 150 hct of vineyards. Four-fifths of its champagne (including the Art Deco) is made from grand and premier cru fruit – the top ranking of potential quality in Champagne, from within a 30km radius of Epernay, Champagne’s heartland. Vinification: A blend of Grand Crus (Ambonnay, Louvois, Mailly-Champagne, Verzenay) and Premiers Crus (Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes, Rilly-la-Montagne, Trépail, Vertus, Ville-Dommange, Villers-Marmery) the base wine is from the 2020 vintage (with 29% reserve wine.) The final blend consists of 43% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier. Aged for a minimum of 4 years before disgorgement. Dosage: 8 g/l Tasting notes: Lemon-yellow colour, fine and lively effervescence. White flowers, lime, apple, pear, pineapple, aniseed and honey on the nose. Creamy and silky texture, with citrus fruits, pineapple, sea salt and honey on the palate. |
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Winemaker: Communal (Sébastien Walasiak is chef de caves.) |
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Price per bottle / Price per case: $54.99 / $593.89 |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Aperitif, fried poultry and seafood such as fried chicken, fish tacos, fish and chips, pan-fried halibut. Ravioli. |
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Charpentier Tradition Brut NV |
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From: Marne Valley, Champagne |
About the Winery: Though Jean-Marc Charpentier represents the 8th generation of his family to make Champagne in the Marne Valley, since taking over in 1989, he has pretty much reinvented his ancestral holdings. First he spent a decade studying the soils, identifying 72 different parcels. Then, 20 years ago he made the transition from cooperative to independent farmer. In 2009, he undertook the conversion of his 24 hectares to organic and biodynamic farming, which made him a pioneer at the time (and an exception still today.) The results have helped redefine the Marne Valley region, as a spot to watch for great new grower-producer bottlings. Vinification: 80% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Noir. Vinification in stainless steel, temperature controlled tanks. Malolactic fermentation completed. Blending with 20 to 40% of reserve wines depending on the nature of each vintage. Ageing: 36 months maturation on the yeasts. Disgorgment 6 months prior to shipping Dosage: 7.6 g/l Tasting notes: Bright and clear with a golden hue. Fine bubbles. Nose fruity, clean and elegant. Palate dominated by orchard fruits, supported by limestone led freshness. |
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Winemaker: Jean-Marc Charpentier |
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Price per bottle / Price per case: $58.99 / $637.10 |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Smoked salmon, sushi & sashimi, charcuterie, asparagus risotto. |
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