Champagne Michel Guilleminot crafts La Belle Année Brut Blanc de Noirs from the stellar 2017 vintage, a pure Pinot Noir expression sourced from old vines in the clay-limestone soils of Cuisles, deep in the Côte des Bar's Vallée de la Marne. This Récoltant-Manipulant (RM) family estate—now in its fourth generation since 1890—farms just 8 hectares sustainably, prioritizing low yields and minimal intervention to capture hyper-local terroir. La Belle Année ("The Beautiful Year") is their prestige cuvée, released only in exceptional harvests like 2017, when chalky freshness and precise red fruit defined the growing season after a cool, dry summer.

The winery's Pinot Noir obsession (85% of plantings) yields elegant, site-specific sparklers that overdeliver against big-house consistency, often earning 90+ scores for their wild edge and sapidity. Aged over 5 years on lees with a mere 6g/L dosage, this Blanc de Noirs balances creamy mousse against laser acidity—baked apple, wild strawberry, blood orange zest, flinty minerality, and white flowers unfolding into a saline, endless finish.

Why You'll Love It

• Vintage Chalk Purity: 2017's lean frame delivers vibrant red berries and citrus pith without heaviness—tense, electric Pinot Noir sparkle.

• RM Authenticity: Small-plot intensity trumps blended uniformity; old-vine depth and wild herbs scream Vallée de la Marne soul.

• Age-Worthy Now: At 9 years, it's singing with integrated tannins and smoky complexity—peak drinking through 2030+.

How to Enjoy It

• Pop & Serve: at 46-50°F in a tulip flute to concentrate aromas. After a few minutes brioche, flint, and menthol lift

• Oysters & Lobster: Saline backbone cuts shellfish richness; pairs through grilled fish, aged Comté, or tempura.

• Cellar or Sip: Holds 10+ years gracefully; chill gently, avoid over-shaking—fine bead demands contemplation.