Is there a more perfect pairing than Valentine’s Day and Champagne? This month, we are presenting two beautiful bottles from married couples who exemplify “Love who you work with and love what you work with.” Champagne production requires multiple steps and lots of time. Both these bottles showcase the love and devotion required in winemaking to consummate something outstanding.
Both of our winemaking couples practice organic and sustainable farming, still a rarity in Champagne. Harsh growing conditions and an onerous process can force winemakers to simplify their methods and add adulterants to vineyard and bottling. We were impressed that one of the producers we are showcasing, Petit & Bajan, pays such close attention to what goes into the bottle that even the liquor de tirage added at disgorgement is made by Richard Petit, using his own grapes for wine and added cane sugar. Yann Alexandre, our other producer, is also quite focused, with “no detail left to chance.” He uses regenerative practices in the vineyard, aiming to make “as natural a Champagne as possible”, with minimal added sulfites, hand riddling and disgorgement. Making champagne, like love, is hard work and the dedication and devotion to the art really comes through in this months selections.
With Valentine’s Day in mind, a holiday that allows us to celebrate love in all its forms, these bottles evoke and exude love, partnership, and the beauty of a bottle from one grower-producer to your glass.
To Love!
The PlumpJack Family
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From: Montagne de Reims |
About the Winery: Yann Alexandre and his wife, Séverine, share a passion for horticulture that directly informs their viticulture. “We grow the vineyard like a garden,” Yann explains. This is a high bar for two farmers working 6.3 hectares spread over 28 plots in nine villages. But is also essential to their philosophy: “I always try to put forward the characteristics of each plot of land and to reach perfect grape maturity and health.” Vinification: The Brut Noir is composed of 50% pinot meunier, 35% chardonnay and 15% pinot noir collected from different organically farmed plots spread across the communes of Courmas, Bouilly, Merfy, Chenay and Saint-Lumier-en-Champagne. The soil types found in these lots are calcareous-clay, with stones, flint, and sand. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless for 6-8 months before it is blended with 30% reserve wine and aged en tirage for 4-5 years. It was disgorged in Autumn 2019. Elevage: 7 months in stainless, 4 years on lees Assemblage: 70% 2014 , 30% reserve wine Dosage: 9 grams Tasting notes: An incredible blend of layers of fruit, yeast and acid. Starts off with ripe apple and bartlett pear flavors and bright lemon flavors. Great acid, long finish, and a beautiful toasty, brioche bread and toasted almond notes. |
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Winemaker: Yann Alexandre |
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Price per bottle / Price per case: $65 /bottle $780 /case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Tom Yum Tom Kha Gai Fried Szechwan Chicken |
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From: Avize |
About the Winery: Richard Petit’s family roots in Avize go back centuries, caring for Chardonnay on the chalky soils of the Côte de Blancs. Véronique Bajan’s clan hails from Pinot Noir terroir in Verzenay, grand cru land on the Montagne de Reims. Love, then marraige, came first in 1997; then in 1999, when Richard took over his family’s winery in Avize, the idea that they could create wine together blossomed. With Richard’s attention to detail in the fields and Véronique’s tasting prowess in the cellar, the small-batch, grand cru wines of Petit & Bajan are very much the voice of Champagne’s new generation. These are bold, vinous wines that set a higher bar for grand cru Champagne. Vinification: Estate vines (Chardonnay) are found on pure chalk soils in the villages of Avize, Oger and Cramant; estate vines (Pinot Noir) are found on a mix of chalk and clay in the village of Verzenay. The estate farms just over seven acres total.Hand-harvested. Rosé d’assemblage. Chardonnay grapes pressed directly in a hand-cranked, upright wooden press and fermented on selected yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Malolactic conversion allowed. Pinot Noir vinified as a dry wine, macerated for one month and aged briefly in French oak. Aged for a minimum of 15 months. Bottles no July 26th 2018 and disgorged on September 2020. Elevage: 15 months on lees. Disgorged on September 20th 2020 Assemblage: 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir (still wine) Dosage: 3 grams Tasting notes: Aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, blood orange, toast, light baking spices. Bright and fresh, very juicy; more blood orange on the palate, lacy and refined. |
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Winemaker: Richard Petit |
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Price per bottle / Price per case: $ 64 /bottle $768 /case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Hard Cheeses Vadouvan Curry with Dark Meat Lamb Tagine |
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