Franck Bonville Unisson Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru 2017
A testament to the harmony of the Côte des Blancs, the Unisson 2017 is drawn entirely from Chardonnay vines rooted in the deep chalk of Avize and Oger. Its bouquet unfurls in quiet sophistication — lemon blossom, almond cream, and cool stone. The palate is taut yet generous, the gentle dosage of 4 g/L lending a fine creaminess that never obscures the mineral thread. Notes of pear and white peach follow through to a saline finish that hums with tension and purity. It is a Champagne of crystalline poise, confident but never ostentatious, the sort that grows finer with every moment in the glass.
Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Blanc de Blancs Non Dosé 1er Cru 2017
The 2017 Terre de Vertus captures the Larmandier-Bernier ideal of naked terroir — a Champagne stripped of artifice, made entirely from Chardonnay and bottled with no dosage. The first impression is one of chalk dust and lemon zest, joined by subtle tones of hazelnut and crushed herbs. On the palate, it moves like a blade through silk: sharp, refined, and layered with delicate flavours of green apple and flint. The wine’s austerity is not severe but spiritual — it commands silence, inviting contemplation of texture, rhythm, and depth. As it opens, a faint whisper of brioche and wet limestone lingers, reminding one of the timeless beauty of Vertus.
Egly-Ouriet Tradition Brut Grand Cru NV
Egly-Ouriet’s Tradition NV, built largely on Pinot Noir with a third of Chardonnay, demonstrates why this grower is revered among Champagne’s elite. The wine is at once ample and focused, marrying the richness of ripe orchard fruit with the clarity of a mineral spine. The modest dosage of 3 g/L adds polish but no excess. Aromas of baked apple, roasted almond, and brioche precede a palate of remarkable intensity, where savoury spice and chalk intermingle in long, resonant layers. It feels both urbane and elemental — Champagne with the authority of a great red wine, yet the grace of something weightless.
Aurélien Suenen Oiry Grand Cru 2020
Few Champagnes express chalk as vividly as Aurélien Suenen’s Oiry 2020. Made from 100% Chardonnay grown on impossibly pure Grand Cru soils, and finished with just 2 g/L dosage, it crackles with tension from the first sip. Aromas of lime peel, white flowers, and crushed shell set the stage for a palate that is luminous and bracingly vertical. Each detail — the fine mousse, the lift of acidity, the saline persistence — speaks of precision. Yet beneath the restraint lies a quiet generosity, a sense of gentle ripeness that balances its mineral core. It’s a Champagne of finesse and focus, the liquid echo of its chalky origins.
Vouette et Sorbée Blanc d’Argile 2020
Bertrand Gautherot’s Blanc d’Argile 2020 is a deep dive into the terroir of Buxières-sur-Arce, where Kimmeridgian limestone meets biodynamic viticulture. Made entirely from Chardonnay and bottled without dosage, it reveals a tactile, almost Burgundian richness — quince, yellow apple, lemon balm, and oyster shell. The texture is broad yet precise, the wine evolving from savoury to saline, from fruit to stone. It is Champagne that blurs the line between still and sparkling, compelling in its natural depth. Each sip feels alive with quiet power, as though the vineyard’s limestone breathes through the wine itself.
Paul Gosset Des Jours et des Muids NV
Paul Gosset’s Des Jours et des Muids is one of those Champagnes that feels modern yet deeply rooted in tradition. A balanced blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier with a minimal 2 g/L dosage, it opens with aromas of pear skin, acacia, and roasted hazelnut. The palate walks the line between richness and drive — fruit tones of apricot and baked apple woven through a framework of chalk and spice. There’s a generosity to the mousse and a fine taper on the finish, revealing Gosset’s understated artistry. A Champagne for quiet reflection rather than grand gestures.
Benoît Lahaye Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Nature NV
From the chalk and clay of Bouzy, this 100% Pinot Noir Champagne from Benoît Lahaye showcases intensity without weight. Bottled with no dosage, it bursts with scents of wild cherry, redcurrant, and bitter cocoa. The palate is deeply vinous — almost tactile — yet animated by a shimmering acidity that lifts its power. Behind the fruit lies a gravelly mineral undertone, a nod to Bouzy’s southern exposure. Every element feels integrated, natural, and unforced. This is Pinot Noir in its purest Champagne expression, unfettered and profound.
Alexandre Lamblot Intuition 2020
Intuition is the perfect name for Lamblot’s 2020 blend of Chardonnay, Meunier, and Pinot Noir. Guided more by feel than formula, this Champagne resonates with quiet depth. Its 1.5 g/L dosage merely frames the fruit, allowing scents of citrus zest, white pepper, and chalk to shine through. On the palate, the wine glides between richness and restraint — fleshy orchard fruit balanced by crystalline acidity. Each sip builds tension before releasing it in waves of saline precision. It’s not a Champagne that shouts; it breathes, expands, and lingers, a conversation between energy and calm.
Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres 2020
A single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Merfy, Les Couarres 2020 feels more like a great Côte de Beaune than a traditional Champagne. Fermented and aged with care, and finished with 2 g/L dosage, it presents aromas of pear, toast, and warm earth. The palate is broad and textural, carrying layers of baked fruit, nutmeg, and chalk. What sets it apart is its tactile structure — that sensation of limestone dust and subtle tannin that binds everything together. It’s a wine that doesn’t sparkle so much as pulse with quiet energy, bridging Champagne’s elegance and Burgundy’s soul.
