Champagne La Closerie 'Les Béguines' Extra-Brut

You know that smile the cat in Alice in Wonderland has when he's dreaming up something devious? That's the size of grin that spread over Jess' face when she unpacked these bottles from their box. While this is a hot take, I [Jess] find that Champagne over $100 just doesn't tend to impress me more than Champagne at $80... except Jérôme's. He is part of a small but powerful coalition of tiny producers making intense, terroir-transparent Champagnes. Rather than follow the traditional Champagne model of blending grapes, vintages, and vineyards to produce a "standardized" product, Jérôme and his fellow "Champagne Renegades" produce terroir-specific bottlings primarily dedicated to one grape and one vintage. Jérôme is always tinkering and experimenting, and the Grand Cru is his occasional experimental cuvee. Definitely more personality, often zero sulfur - this is Champs for the natty wine lovers.

We love it with… fresh baked baguette, good butter, and good friends

Type: Sparkling
Vintage: 2023
Size: 750mL
ABV: 12.5%
Grape: 100% Pinot Meunier
Region: Gueux, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
Vinification: