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Francis Orban, Brut Millésime

Champagne, France 2015 (750mL)
$68.00
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Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol

Francis Orban, Brut Millésime

Of all the recent Champagne vintages, one thing is clear: 2015 is going to make serious noise. It’s undoubtedly a brilliant year, with many already handing it “perfect” ratings and/or comparing it to all-time great vintages like ‘47, so we’d all be wise to stock up on as many as possible. I strongly advise that you start with Francis Orban: This lush, strikingly radiant, and remarkably priced Champagne is primed to stun over the next decade, not to mention that its blue-chip stock is virtually guaranteed to soar.


Close readers will recognize this tiny grower-producer as a Pinot Meunier specialist in the Vallée de la Marne, but today’s micro-production vintage release showcases mostly Chardonnay with Meunier playing an amplifying supporting role. It’s intense, vinous, and ridiculously layered, and on top of all that, the wine is effectively a SommSelect exclusive. This ‘15 moved us so much, we locked up the overwhelming majority the moment it landed in the States. Translation: Don’t expect to see it on a store shelf or wine list near you. Up to six bottles per person until it’s gone!


Francis Orban first moved us a couple of years back with his breathtaking expression of 100% Pinot Meunier, an Extra Brut bottling that, for me, called to mind the powerful “Les Vignes de Vrigny” from Egly-Ouriet. The similarities were striking, and yet Orban hardly charges you for it.  Ever since that day, this tiny estate has become a rising star in our eyes. Established in 1929, Orban became one of the very first grower-producers in the Vallée de la Marne village of Leuvrigny, a tradition they've continued for four generations. Located on the Seine River’s left bank (‘Rive Gauche’), this sand- and clay-rich terroir is best-suited for Meunier, one that’s held in high regard—Krug Champagne can be found purchasing grapes here annually. 



Francis’ seven hectares of vines in Leuvrigny and Sainte-Gemme, a village located on the opposite bank, are roughly 40 years old and farmed sustainably. Nearly 90% of Orban’s plantings are dedicated to Meunier but with this 2015 bottling, Chardonnay is placed front and center, comprising 80% of the blend (he farms well under one hectare of Chardonnay so you can understand just how limited of a cuvée this is!) After hand-harvesting, grapes were gently layered in a traditional Coquard press, and then both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation occurred in stainless steel vats. It was then transferred into bottle where it aged on its lees for roughly four years. It received a light dosage of three grams after disgorgement. 



Packed with dense fruit, savory undertones, and creamy, brioche-y texture, Champagne Francis Orban’s 2015 vintage bottling delivers a rich, nearly full-bodied experience. If serving around 50-55 degrees in all-purpose stems, this luxurious wine rolls out crisp red and yellow apple, Rainier cherry, fresh cream, lemon curd, Bosc pear, raspberry brioche, vanilla bean, crushed stone, and a touch of forest floor. After a generous pour, I strongly encourage that you allow several minutes for the carbonation to settle before diving in. When you do, there’s no going back. This goes down delightfully quick, all while leaving a pronounced trail of crushed minerals and opulently layered fruits. Enjoy now and over the next 5-7 years, minimum. Cheers!
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Country
France
Region
Champagne
Sub-Region
FranceVallée de la Marne
Soil
Clay, Limestone, Sand
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Chardonnay 80%, Meunier 20%
Alcohol
12.5
TEMP.
50-55
Glassware
All-Purpose White
Drinking
Now-2025
Pairing
Karaage

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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