Marguet Pere & Fils ‘Les Crayères' Grand Cru

STUNNING. Easily one of the best I [Jess] have had recently. What makes this Champagne so compelling is the way it balances autolytic, toasty depth with freshness in a way that feels complete rather than extreme. I enjoy Blanc de Blancs, but sometimes that razor-sharp acidity can feel a little too austere or linear, making it hard to return to the glass over and over. For me, a perfect Champagne is about intrigue and comfort at the same time: freshness, texture, toast, energy... none of it tipping so far that you stop enjoying the glass in front of you. This is one of those wines that made me slow down in a busy moment. It'll pull you in, make you notice how you feel after a few sips, and then quietly make you want another glass. Can't wait to try his other wines!

We love it with… good friends, triple creme brie, fresh baguette

Type: Sparkling
Vintage: 2020
Size: 750mL
ABV: 0.13
Grape: 67% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir
Region: Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
Vinification: Biodynamic farming; certified Ecocert and Demeter since 2008. All actions in the vineyards and in the cellar are guided by not just the lunar calendar but by other planetary movements. There are amethysts around. Benoît is well-known for draft horse farming, vegetal and floral tisanes instead of chemically-derived organic treatments, spontaneous fermentations, brut-nature secondary fermentation and even a fair quantity of Champagnes bottled without any sulfur additions at all. Similarly, all of the wines produced at Champagne Marguet are aged in wood – “Have you ever slept in a stainless steel bedroom?” asks Benoît, by way of explanation. Barrels are all between 1 and 9 years old and of various sizes and cooperages –from standard 225s to custom made 1000 liters from Taransaud designed to maximize convection. Perhaps most intriguingly, Benoît makes it a point to keep the cuvée and taille of his wines together, noting that they “spent their whole life together in berry, so why not some more time in barrel.” 0g/L dosage. Bottled: July 2021, Disgorged: April 2025