Vallée du Petit Morin, Champagne, France – 33% Meunier, 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay
Vine Styles Exclusive
A deep golden colour hints at the time this wine has spent in the cellar. The nose is mature and complex, with very ripe fruit and a delicate, nutty rancio character. Then comes the surprise: the palate is ample and full yet still remarkably fresh, a lovely contrast between an evolved nose and a lively mouth. With zero dosage, it's pure, honest and quite unlike anything else on the shelf.
This is a Champagne for the dinner table. Try it with escargots in garlic butter, briny dishes like oysters or seared scallops, or rich sweetbreads. It also makes a memorable partner for a special occasion cheese board.
"Nots" is old French for natural springs, and Le Grand Not is the very plot where the family's vaulted cellars were built in 1986, with water still emerging between the vine rows. Made only from the têtes de cuvée, the finest first juice from the press, it's fermented with native yeasts in old Burgundy barrels that once held prestigious crus, then aged ten to twelve years in bottle before release. The domaine dates back to 1950, and since 2006 Cyril and Clémence have farmed without synthetic chemicals, earning organic certification in 2018. With just 1,400 bottles made, this rare vintage is available exclusively at Vine Styles.