2/3 Pinot Noir and 1/3 Chardonnay. 50% Reserve wines plus 50% of 2019 base vintage. Disgorged in Dec 2023 so about 4 years on lees! 6g/l of dosage. Basically, this uses the same method as Pierre Peters' Cuvee de Reserve.
Ranked no. 12 out of 110 NV tasted by Richard Juhlin's Champagne Club! Won SIlver Award at the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter 2021, rated WA 90, WE 91 and JG 91.
Our notes said: An opened bottle. Inviting fresh and ripe strawberries, good precision/focus despite us knowing in theory that Bouzy's south facing slopes produces one of the ripest Pinot Noir. We certainly could not tell the 2019's very warm vintage which made the base wine. Being an acid hound with a palate that does not like over ripe fruits, you can rely on us that this falls within the style that we would happily drink! If you find the label a little boring, it is because it's been more or less a similar label since 150 years ago! A happy bubbly for all occasions!
This is a safe Champagne purchase because this is a crowd pleaser!
Free gift ribbon if you are buying as a gift. PLEASE REQUEST by WhatsApp after you order.
Guillaume Seconde - joined the family business in 2021 after studying winemaking. Young but what a promising next gen taking over! We took this photo after our tasting with him.
Background on the producer:
History - One of the pioneer growers (RM)! Founded by Edmond Barnaut in 1874. They are celebrating 150 years anniversary this year! Barnaut was one of the few who dared to bottle his wines under his own brand outside the controlling power of Champagne houses in Reims and Epernay. Phillpe Seconde, the father, is the current descendent who has been in charge since 1985. Their Grande Reserve cuvee - the tradition of using the perpetual reserve method of making Champagne started in 1874 by Edmond Barnaut is kept till today!
Vineyard under farm - 11 ha of which 7.5ha in Bouzy Grand Cru. About 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. Vineyards are about 100m to 200m above sea-level. Mainly south-facing slopes. Soil of Bouzy are mainly clay topsoil over chalk. Certified with Sustainable Viticulture and High Environmental Value.
Bouzy is one of the famous Grand Cru villages in the Montagne de Reims where they are many grower producers who has their own press. It is a rare thing in the Champagne region.
Production - less than 100,000 bottles (less than circa 150k bottles of Pierre Peters!) per annum. Any guess how much Dom Perignon makes? Widely estimated to be about 3 million bottles!