Patrick Piuze, who moved to France from Montreal, Quebec in 2000, apprenticed and served as cellar master under some of the most formidable names in Burgundy, including Marc Chapoutier, Olivier Leflaive, Jean-Marie Guffens and Jean-Marc Brocard, before setting up his own winemaking operation in 2008. Although he doesn’t own any vineyards, Patrick has served as a counselor to his growers and has a profound passion for terroir. He crafts his wines from Grand Cru, Premier Cru and village-level vineyards with a serious eye towards quality and strives to capture everything the distinct soils he sources from have to offer. His first vintage was immediately lauded by critics and his small production has been seriously allocated ever since. Shortly after setting up his own shop, François Moutard of Champagne approached Patrick about a joint endeavor, Val de Mer, in Chablis. Although Monsieur Moutard owns the estate in Chablis, Patrick oversees the vineyards and handcrafts all the wines.

 

Today’s particular bottling, derived from northern Burgundy soils that rest only seven kilometers from the border of Champagne, can be enjoyed for a mere fraction of its neighbor’s price point. The fruit from this cool northern valley is picked entirely by hand and is crafted in an extremely classic style that captures the unique terroir of the site. The wine is aged in stainless steel prior to malolactic fermentation then is aged on its lees for a minimum of thirteen months prior to disgorgement. Patrick eschews cold stabilization, without dosage, in an effort to maintain the purity of fruit and the aromatic bouquet that is simultaneously rich, racy and mineral-driven. Patrick does not label this wine as Crémant de Bourgogne because he uses press wine in the final blend in an effort to contribute dry extract and density to the final wine. This quality-conscious choice prevents him from labeling under the AOC. Nevertheless, this wine is “sparkling Chablis” crafted in the traditional method, which is identical to the process Champagne undergoes.