{"title":"Ambonnay Champagne Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eAmbonnay is one of Champagne's most celebrated Grand Cru villages, renowned for producing powerful, age-worthy Pinot Noir. Its chalk-rich terroir delivers remarkable depth, structure, and mineral precision, making Ambonnay a benchmark for world-class Champagne. Explore exceptional Grand Cru bottlings from leading producers and discover one of the region's most collectible terroirs.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"somm2404-rhc12xbrut-750","title":"2012 R.H. Coutier, Champagne Extra Brut Millésime Grand Cru","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe don’t need a fancy lead-in for R.H. Coutier’s 2012 Grand Cru Millisime. We just need to run through the facts to make clear just how much magic is contained within. 100% estate fruit from maybe the greatest Pinot Noir village in Champagne, Grand Cru Ambonnay. No less than seven years aging \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003een tirage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and over four years in bottle. One of the best vintages of the 21st century. All of it crafted by maybe the most historically important grower-producer family in the region. And a bottle doesn’t even come with a triple-digit price tag. In the almost decade since we’ve been doing this, rarely have we seen a Champagne that so effortlessly achieves the trifecta of gravitas, value, and sheer deliciousness in Coutier’s Millisime. A surefire slam dunk like this comes around but a few times in a region as hallowed as Champagne. We’re stocking our cellars to the brim with this and suggest you do the same!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Coutier family is synonymous with Ambonnay. Their wines capture the fruit-laden, fleshy stylings that make this Grand Cru village ground zero for Pinot Noir-based Champagne. They’ve been here since 1614, and have for five generations vinified and bottled the fruit they grow. But they’re not just bound to tradition. In 1948, the Coutier family was the very first to plant Chardonnay in the village. It was thought of as a risky decision at the time, but they knew what they were doing. Since then, Chardonnay plantings have risen to almost 20% of the village’s acreage, and increase every year. With ever-warmer vintages, the tension Chardonnay brings has proven essential to the village’s plush stylings. Now headed up by the young Antoine Coutier, the estate continues to push forward, achieving organic certification and moving toward lower sulfur levels in their finished wines. A bottle of Coutier is a marvel of balance, the richness of Ambonnay Pinot paired to the racy, mineral purity you can only get from Chardonnay.   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA vintage-designated Coutier bottling is frankly a rare sight. The family only produces the wine in the best years, and 2012 will go down as a landmark for the region. It was a vintage of contrasts. Frost and hail damage converged in spring, reducing yields from the get-go. Then rainy conditions during flowering meant increased disease pressure and even less fruit than expected. But midsummer saw a turnaround; warm, dry, sunny days followed by cool nights made for perfect ripening, and the blessed conditions continued all through harvest. The very low yields combined with ideal late-season weather for small quantities of blissfully concentrated fruit. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Coutier’s 2012 Grand Cru is 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. It was fermented in stainless steel, then aged for a year in used barrels before going into bottle for seven years of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003etirage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. This is most certainly a Champagne you’ll want to drink in a white wine glass so you can appreciate the full spectrum of aromas on display. The nose leads with cherry pit, white strawberry, and rose petal backed by creamy apple, toasted brioche, hazelnuts, and honey. The Chardonnay elements come through in full force, with an enlivening zap of lemon peel and crushed rocks. And while the throwback front label says “Brut,” this is technically an Extra Brut (they haven’t changed up labels in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ea long \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003etime), having received only 2 g\/l \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003edosage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. As a result, the palate is beautifully unadorned, just a masterclass in fully ripe textural density, opulent fruit tones, and scintillating structure. More pink and red fruits come to the fore, quickly carried away by chalky minerality and a minutes-long, nutty, toasty finish. It’s a masterpiece of poise, a marriage of richness and tension you can only get from long-aged Grand Cru Pinot. Do not miss this; it might be another decade before we get to offer something so epic again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42221429325878,"sku":"SOMM2404-RHC12XBRUT-750","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2012R.H.Coutier_ChampagneExtraBrutMillisime_MainImage-1800x1800.jpg?v=1712167610"},{"product_id":"2016-andr-clouet-champagne-brut-grand-cru-dream-vintagesomm2411-clt16dream-750","title":"2016 André Clouet, Champagne Brut Grand Cru \"Dream Vintage\"","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur Friday of Clouet event is wrapping up with a very special, and limited, treat: Almost two decades ago, Jean-François Clouet decided to start holding back his favorite vintages and then re-releasing them after long lees aging, with special labels, as the “Dream Vintages.” These textural, multi-layered wines are meant to be gastronomic, or, in other words, served with the finest meals. Unlike the rest of Jean-François’ wines which are primarily Pinot Noir (makes sense, as Bouzy is Pinot country) these special vintage releases are almost entirely built around Chardonnay. With a rich, golden hue, mouth-coating texture, and a velvety mousse, this is a delicacy you don't want to miss. But you need to act fast before they disappear!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Clouet family first found the spotlight after becoming the official printers for the Royal Court at Versailles in the mid-18th century (hence the beauty of their wine labels). Their estate in Bouzy, which current owner Jean-François Clouet still calls home, dates back even further! Beneath this historic site lies their labyrinthine chalk cellar, which still contains partial false walls that hid precious bottles during the Nazi invasion in World War II. With all this historic grandeur surrounding him, Jean-François draws from tradition and time-honored techniques while respectively embracing modern technology into the mix. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir vineyard holdings, all Grand Cru, are spread across just eight hectares in Bouzy and its similarly Pinot Noir focused neighbor, Ambonnay. As such, the vast majority of their cuvées are either dominantly, or entirely Pinot. However, they do have small holdings of Chardonnay, planted to the most chalky heavy parcels, and usually they use this fruit to add touches of saline minerality to their wines. But in 2005 Jean-François was really impressed with the quality of the Chardonnay, and so he set most of it aside and that is what eventually became the very first release of his “Dream Vintages.” That tradition has continued, and now whenever he has exceptional Chardonnay to work with he will set that aside to produce another limited edition “Dream Vintage,” which is exactly what he did in 2016.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith extended lees aging, and now a good chunk of time aging in the bottle as well, the 2016 “Dream Vintage” pours a beautiful, honey gold hue, with a very soft yet persistent mousse. Serve it cool, but not right out of the ice box cold, in all-purpose or Burgundy stems and prepare to sit with this wine for an evening of Champagne bliss. A bevy of aromas and flavors will unfold: green and yellow apple, hazelnut, fresh cut pineapple, lemon curd, brioche, baking spices, cocoa powder, and salty minerals. The rich, opulent texture is balanced perfectly by an elegant, bright acidity. The pairing possibilities seem almost endless, but the best bet is to think of this as a top-tier Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet, with bubbles, and go from there. The holidays are in full swing, so you’ll want some Champagne ringers on hand for when you need to really impress, and if you want to do that with spending close to four figures, then the Clouet 2016 is the perfect answer. Did I mention it is extremely limited? We have just a handful of cases, so don’t wait to pounce!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43250226397238,"sku":"SOMM2411-CLT16DREAM-750","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2016AndreClouet_ChampagneBrutGrandCruDreamVintage_MainImage-1800x1800.jpg?v=1732054096"},{"product_id":"2022-karanika-m-thode-traditionnelle-extra-brut-cuv-e-sp-cialesomm2503-krk22xbrt-750","title":"2022 Karanika, Méthode Traditionnelle Extra Brut \"Cuvée Spéciale\"","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s pretty obvious that we have a love affair, perhaps obsession, with Greek wine.  Crisp, coastal whites and earthy, savory, complex mountain reds are now in regular rotation. But sparkling wine? Only one producer has really blown our minds: Karanika. I’ve tasted these elegant bottles next to real-deal, grower Champagne several times now, and Karanika always holds its own. Of course, the Greeks already know this: If you go to any top-tier restaurant there, the only sparkling wine on the list is often Karanika. So we’re beyond thrilled to introduce you to this luxurious, revelatory, effervescent experience. Check it out!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDomaine Karanika was founded in 2006 by Dutch couple Laurens Hartman and Annette van Kampen, in the Northern Macedonia region of Amyntaio. Laurens’ mother’s side of the family is Greek Vlach, aka Aromanian, and that is where the name Karanika comes from. Laurens was actually trained as a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003evigneron\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e in Champagne, which is why French methods and language permeate their passion project. But Laurens and Annette were both highly successful professionals in the publishing industry when they decided to leave it all behind and to a cold, desolate, yet ruggedly beautiful corner of Greece. Why Amyntaio, also known as Amyndeo? Because you need a crisp, cool, continental climate to produce high-acid grapes for sparkling wine. Also, this region has a high percentage of limestone in the soils, another Champagne-esque feature. But finally, it was Laurens’ belief that Greece's most noble red grape variety, Xinomavro, grown in this unique terroir could produce world-class wines. Turns out he was right!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith a long, relatively cool growing season, Xinomavro has the ability to produce fruit that is perfectly ripe yet still bursting with bright acidity. The “Cuvée Spéciale” is 90% Xinomavro, and then Laurens adds 10% Assyrtiko for its saline, mineral component. Though not native to this part of Greece, it nevertheless thrives in the cool, high-elevation vineyards. Farming is the centerpiece of the estate. They have been fully organic since the beginning, and are now practicing biodynamics throughout the property. Nature is the determining factor in their process, moving wine via gravity and following the lunar calendar when bottling and disgorging. They set themselves an extremely high bar for quality, and somehow they’ve managed to surpass it in a surprisingly short amount of time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter spontaneous fermentation in steel tanks, and aging for several months in those tanks, the “Cuvée Spéciale” is bottled and then spends 12-18 months in tirage on the fine lees before disgorgement. The result is a finely etched, well-structured sparkler that is loaded with red berries and boasts a luxurious, graceful texture. The easy comparison is to a top Grower Champagne from Bouzy or Ambonnay, but Karanika maintains its own delicious personality. Serve it at around 45 to 48 degrees, no colder, in an all-purpose stem and you’ll see what caused our team’s eyes to open wide: Crisp apples, wild raspberries, white cherries, honeysuckle, lemon curd, orange zest, and saline earth are all layered in this shimmering, rose-gold colored wine. Serve with the same dishes as you would any high quality Blanc de Noirs, or go traditional with Greek style grilled calamari. Even by itself we know you will be impressed, and then you’ll wish you had a second bottle!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43515953545270,"sku":"SOMM2503-KRK22XBRT-750","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2022Karanika_MethodeTraditionnelleExtraBrutCuveeSpeciale_vMainImage-1800x1800.jpg?v=1740691220"},{"product_id":"2016-champagne-egly-ouriet-grand-cru-brut-mill-simesomm2512-eort16gcbrut-750","title":"2016 Champagne Egly-Ouriet, Grand Cru Brut Millésime","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from Grand Cru Ambonnay, aged six to eight years in bottle for extraordinary texture and concentration. A powerful, structured vintage Champagne built for both immediate impact and long aging.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSelosse may have redefined what grower Champagne could be, but their bottles have become nearly impossible to find stateside. Egly‑Ouriet—cut from the same revolutionary cloth—remains one of the last truly attainable icons of the movement: fiercely allocated, profoundly terroir‑driven, and still within reach for those who move quickly. Francis Egly, a meticulous perfectionist and one of the true pioneers of the grower‑Champagne movement, has spent decades crafting wines that stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the region’s greatest. This holiday season, we’re offering a five‑bottle collection that captures the full breadth of his mastery, from Grand Cru Champagne to one of the rarest still wines in France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis exclusive lineup includes the 2016 Grand Cru Brut Millésime, the legendary old‑vine Crayères, and the nearly unobtainable still Ambonnay Pinot Noir—an old‑vine, amphitheater‑grown cuvée whose silky, weighty texture evokes top Chambolle‑Musigny and rivals great Grand Cru Burgundy. These headline bottlings are joined by two additional estate rarities that showcase the depth, precision, and vinous power that have made Egly‑Ouriet a benchmark for collectors worldwide. Each wine reflects the domaine’s uncompromising approach: low yields, old vines, meticulous élevage, and extended aging that deliver unmatched texture and concentration.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes this collection so special is not just the quality—it’s the scarcity. Quantities of these wines are microscopic even in France, and nearly nonexistent in the U.S. The still Ambonnay Rouge is produced in tiny volumes; Crayères is one of Champagne’s most coveted old‑vine bottlings; and the 2016 Millésime, sourced exclusively from Grand Cru Ambonnay, is aged six to eight years before release. These are wines that rarely appear together, let alone in a single curated holiday offering.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor collectors, for Champagne lovers, and for anyone who understands the significance of Egly‑Ouriet’s place in the region’s history, this is a once‑a‑year opportunity. With Selosse nearly unobtainable and demand for grower Champagne at an all‑time high, this holiday‑only collection is your chance to secure the last truly accessible icon of the movement—before these bottles disappear for good.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44406044065846,"sku":"SOMM2512-EORT16GCBRUT-750","price":530.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2016_Champagne_Egly-Ouriet_Grand_Cru_Brut_Millesime.png?v=1765215814"},{"product_id":"2023-egly-ouriet-coteaux-champenois-cuv-e-des-grands-c-tes-vieilles-vignes-ambonnay-rougesomm2512-eort23ambrge-750","title":"2023 Egly-Ouriet, Coteaux Champenois \"Cuvée des Grands Côtes\" Vieilles Vignes, Ambonnay Rouge","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eFrom low‑yielding, amphitheater‑shaped old‑vine parcels in Ambonnay. Silky yet weighty, with red berries, crushed stone, and a texture reminiscent of top Chambolle‑Musigny. Produced in vanishingly small quantities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e======\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSelosse may have redefined what grower Champagne could be, but their bottles have become nearly impossible to find stateside. Egly‑Ouriet—cut from the same revolutionary cloth—remains one of the last truly attainable icons of the movement: fiercely allocated, profoundly terroir‑driven, and still within reach for those who move quickly. Francis Egly, a meticulous perfectionist and one of the true pioneers of the grower‑Champagne movement, has spent decades crafting wines that stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the region’s greatest. This holiday season, we’re offering a five‑bottle collection that captures the full breadth of his mastery, from Grand Cru Champagne to one of the rarest still wines in France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis exclusive lineup includes the 2016 Grand Cru Brut Millésime, the legendary old‑vine Crayères, and the nearly unobtainable still Ambonnay Pinot Noir—an old‑vine, amphitheater‑grown cuvée whose silky, weighty texture evokes top Chambolle‑Musigny and rivals great Grand Cru Burgundy. These headline bottlings are joined by two additional estate rarities that showcase the depth, precision, and vinous power that have made Egly‑Ouriet a benchmark for collectors worldwide. Each wine reflects the domaine’s uncompromising approach: low yields, old vines, meticulous élevage, and extended aging that deliver unmatched texture and concentration.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat makes this collection so special is not just the quality—it’s the scarcity. Quantities of these wines are microscopic even in France, and nearly nonexistent in the U.S. The still Ambonnay Rouge is produced in tiny volumes; Crayères is one of Champagne’s most coveted old‑vine bottlings; and the 2016 Millésime, sourced exclusively from Grand Cru Ambonnay, is aged six to eight years before release. These are wines that rarely appear together, let alone in a single curated holiday offering.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor collectors, for Champagne lovers, and for anyone who understands the significance of Egly‑Ouriet’s place in the region’s history, this is a once‑a‑year opportunity. With Selosse nearly unobtainable and demand for grower Champagne at an all‑time high, this holiday‑only collection is your chance to secure the last truly accessible icon of the movement—before these bottles disappear for good.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44406046818358,"sku":"SOMM2512-EORT23AMBRGE-750","price":348.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2023_Egly-Ouriet_Coteaux_Champenois_Cuvee_des_Grands_Cotes_Vieilles_Vignes_Ambonnay_Rouge.png?v=1765215815"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/collections\/Clos_d_Ambonnay_3.jpg?v=1781470571","url":"https:\/\/sommselect.com\/collections\/ambonnay-champagne-collection.oembed","provider":"SommSelect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}