A blend of 100% Pinot Noir from vines aged over 40 years. This Champagne comes from a selection in the vineyard from the 2018 harvest. Grapes are macerated for 24 hours. Very expressive, with aromas of bitter cherry and strawberry meringue. On the palate it is vinous, fruity, and refreshing. Its lovely acidity leads to a tight but juicy finish, rich in tannins.

In 2010, the husband-and-wife team of Loïc Barrat, a viticulteur by trade, and Aurélie Masson, winemaker, established their small estate in the village of Villenauxe-la-Grande. Located 100 km from Paris, they are at the very edge of the Champagne appellation, the last vineyards before you leave the region. Per Loïc, “no, this is not the edge, it’s where Champagne begins.” Both come from highly regarded families in Champagne and are now among the must watch next generation. Their approximately seven hectares of 40-year-old vines are certified organic, which has given the vineyards “good flora & fauna,” as Barrat puts it. Grapes are pressed on a traditional ‘Coquard’ wooden press, parcel by parcel to monitor the variations in terroir, and provide the largest palette for the final blend. Their wines show the lively character typical of the growing area – flowery, high-toned flavors and ripe forward fruit – along with a prominently chalky soil signature. We visited them in 2018 and can’t wait to return.