One of our all-time favorite Grower Champagnes at SommSelect, this entirely Chardonnay-based beauty from the Côte de Blancs is aged on its lees for an extended period of time; the wine is only disgorged upon its exit from the labyrinthine cellars. In spite of the producer’s recent fame from the film, “A Year in Champagne,” octogenarian Monsieur Christian Coquillette, still labels each bottle by hand. This only reaffirms why the master artisan is one of the most revered grower-producers in the region who has not modernized. Simply put, this wine epitomizes everything I love about champagne both in taste and tradition.

The humble, yet grand old man of Champagne’s Côte de Blancs, Monsieur Christian Coquillette, has been handcrafting wine from his family’s vineyard since 1950. The wine caves, snaking under the earth for nearly half a mile, were built in the 19th century and the Coquillette family has owned and operated Saint-Chamant since the 1930s. Legacy isn’t all that Monsieur Coquillette has going for himself. He hand crafts this incredible Champagne of 100% Chardonnay from a select 11.5-hectare vineyard in the Côte de Blancs’ Grand Cru village of Chouilly, which rest over the “Roche Mere.” The Roche Mere translates to the “mother rock,” and is comprised of a massive limestone formation that extends into the earth for tens of meters. 

The 2008 Blanc de Blancs displays a straw yellow core rimmed by a hint of green and exhibits delicate, persistent beading through the richly colored liquid. Creamy aromas of yellow apple, lemon curd, freshly-baked brioche, a hint of pineapple, lees, pureed hazelnut and white mushrooms levitate above the glass for a combined fragrance you will want to experience all night long. The palate is round with soft bubbles and notes of dried pineapple, lemon zest, fresh yellow apple, warm brioche and a hint of hazelnut that unfolds into a mineral-driven, crisp finish. Made in a traditional style entirely by hand, there is simply nothing like it. For the ultimate experience, pull the cork ten minutes prior to serving in all-purpose stems or open-mouthed champagne flutes at 45-50 degrees, then let slowly open and gently warm in the glass to experience everything the dazzling aromatics have in store. This is the ideal Champagne to start any gathering with close friends that will pair with dozens of starters. Try this Smoked Salmon Pancake recipe paired with this Champagne for an upcoming Sunday brunch; it will be a pairing nobody will soon forget!