Not only is this a mature, layered wine crafted from Grand Cru-designated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, “Cuvée XII” is Louis de Sacy’s most ambitious project yet, but, comically, this isolated release was accidental. Though the family originally intended to start an experimental project by bottling their finest selection of Grand Cru wines in 1,000 magnums, these bottles were literally forgotten about for a dozen years. After stumbling upon the small stockpile in the depths of their chalk cellars in December of 2015, the Sacys tasted one and, to their delight, discovered the wine was stunning. So, they disgorged them all and announced a special, one-time release. Once these 1,000 magnums disappear—and judging by the tiny fraction we received, it’s on the verge of happening—that’s it. There will be no re-release or succeeding Cuvée XIII. This beautiful magnum is a rare golden ticket and it’s something everyone will ask about when unveiled at your table. Don’t linger—we can only offer two per person and it can’t be found anywhere else! [Please note that this wine is not available for Build a Case orders due to its size.]

The Sacy family of Louis de Sacy has been farming vines in the Grand Cru village of Verzy since the 1600s, which translates to 13 uninterrupted generations of vine expertise. It wasn’t until 1962, however, that André Sacy decided to make proprietary wines and, since then, Champagne Louis de Sacy has been a force to be reckoned with. Their philosophy is simple: Produce the greatest luxury Champagnes at an affordable cost. To back that statement, just take today’s 15-year-old magnum—comparatively speaking, it’s a steal and I wouldn’t bat an eye if it came in at twice the price. As mentioned, only 1,000 magnums of this experimental project were crafted from nearly equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Grand Cru Verzy. Two vintages were blended in this special bottling, 2003 and 2002, which perfectly marries opulence and power (for those who don’t know, 2002 was among the best-ever in modern day Champagne!). The wine was bottled in 2004 and then rested on its lees for 12 years before its rediscovery and subsequent disgorgement in 2015. Now with nearly three extra years in bottle off its lees, this is a gorgeously mature Champagne waiting to unleash its powerful aromatics and brilliant secondary notes. 

In the glass, Cuvée XII pours a deep, concentrated yellow with silver reflections that ooze luxury. Bubbles are extremely compact and spindly beads march upward to a rapid cadence before settling within the wine’s ultra-fine mousse. The nose is stunningly fragrant and intoxicatingly rich, showcasing ripe quince, yellow apples, grilled pineapple, citrus blossoms, white cherry, brioche, cream, lemon meringue, white button mushroom, delicate herbs, crushed chalk, honeyed toast, and dried flowers. The palate is nearly full-bodied, creamy, wonderfully balanced, and after all these years still brings a sense of refreshment alongside layers of intensely ripe orchard fruit and crushed rock minerality. And then there’s the finish: It lasts an eternity, bringing constant waves of rich, supple fruit and savory qualities that keeps reaffirming the investment you made. With so much time on the lees and the large format (which extends a wine’s life due to the proportion of oxygen in the neck of the bottle vs. the volume of wine), this will seamlessly age over the next decade and beyond, but it’s fully ready to enjoy now. Serve in your largest Champagne tulips (avoid flutes at all costs!) around 50-55 degrees and be sure to have several friends and family at your side, preferably some with culinary experience so they can help prepare a foie gras with an oaxacan mole sauce. Be sure to savor every bite and sip and it’ll be a pairing everyone remembers for quite some time. Cheers!