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Lancelot-Pienne Instant Present Brut Blanc de Blancs
Origin: Cramant, France
Retail: $54.95 | Sale: $49.46
The Lancelot family have been Champagne growers for over 120 years. At the beginning of the 1900s, Jean Baptiste Lancelot, in addition to growing his own vines in the town of Cramant, was also the head winemaker at Mumm. He gave his passion to his son Jean who, after working at a number of Champagne houses, began bottling Champagne from his own vineyards. The domaine is located in the village of Cramant, one of the best terroirs in the Côtes de Blancs. They own 5.5 hectares (13.6 acres) of vines and produce about 45,000 bottles. This comes from vines averaging 40 years of age growing along the Côte des Blancs as well as from Monthelon and Mancy, two villages south of Epernay in the Côteaux Sud d’Epernay. Aged on its lees for 30 months before disgorgement with a small dosage of 6 grams
100% Chardonnay
Fresne Ducret Les Nouveaux Explorateurs 1er Cru
Origin: Champagne, France
Retail: $44.95 | Sale: $40.46
The Fresne Ducret domaine consists of 6 hectares of 1er Cru vineyards divided among 25 parcels, which are, with one exception, all in the village of Villedommange. According to the champagne authority, Richard Juhlin, Villedommange, along with the village of Sacy, has the best vineyards in the northern part of the Montagne de Reims, known as the Petite Montagne. The Fresne family have lived and farmed in Villedommange for 180 years and since 2007 it has been Pierre Fresne and his wife Daniella writing the current chapter. Losing little time, Pierre and Daniella began estate-bottling their champagne with the 2008 vintage. In 2018, after a decade of working towards organic farming, they officially entered into conversion for organic The base wine for this cuvée is a blend of three 1er Cru parcels in Villedommange with sandy/clay soils: “Les Braies”, “Les Monts Teigneux”, and “Les Barbaries”. The vintage wine is blended with 20% of the previous vintage and 20% from a “perpetual reserve” tank begun in 2008.
45% Pinot Meunier, 45% Pinot Noir, and 10% Chardonnay.
Laurent-Perrier Rose NV
Origin: Champagne, France
Retail: $89.95 | Sale: $80.96
The House of Laurent-Perrier was founded in 1812 by André Michel Pierlot and took the name Vve Laurent-Perrier when Mathilde Emilie Perrier, the widow of Eugène Laurent, combined the two family names after she decided to expand the business. Eugénie Hortense Laurent, her daughter, inherited the House in 1925 and sold it to Marie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt in 1939. During WWII, Marie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt ran the business while two of her sons, Maurice and Bernard, joined the French Resistance. In 1945, Bernard de Nonancourt began an exacting apprenticeship, learning every aspect of winemaking from vine to cellar. He established privileged working relationships with the grape growers and cleverly combined innovation and tradition. He created the signature Laurent-Perrier style of freshness, finesse and elegance and developed a unique range of champagnes. The Rose is one of the purest expressions of Pinot Noir in all of Champagne. Ethereal floral and raspberry nose. A vinous palate with a mild mousse, the soft texture all wrapped in spice, nuts, smoke, and a superior berry tincture. Very long and easy to enjoy.
100% Pinot Noir