Champagne Gardet Brut Zero Dosage NV

This latest release from Maison Gardet is bone-dry, toasty, vibrant, and dangerously easy to drink, showing the kind of polish you’d expect from a bottle that costs far more. Maison Gardet was founded in the late 19th century by Charles Gardet, a wine merchant in Epernay. His son Georges later moved the house to the charming village of Chigny-les-Roses in the 1930s. Today it is owned by the Prieux family, with Christophe Prieux also overseeing neighboring Maison Ployez-Jacquemart. With family roots in Champagne dating back to the 1600s, they’ve quietly transformed Gardet into one of the region’s best under-the-radar houses.

Over the past few years, we’ve been blown away by the steady improvement of quality amongst the Gardet portfolio. This is an ancient house that has thrived under new ownership and a full-scale facility modernization. Tucked away between the two major cities of Champagne – Reims and Epernay – Chigny-les-Roses is an absolute must see. The village is nested right in the vineyards, standing against a cliff shelf, topped by the region’s dark green forest. A number of well-known producers have chosen this quaint village as their base, including Jay Z’s Armand de Brignac (aka Ace of Spades) and the Lasalle family.

Made of 34% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Meunier, and 33% Chardonnay, this Zero Dosage cuvée is aged a remarkable five years in the estate’s cold cellars before disgorgement. It includes a generous 25% share of barrel-aged reserve wine, bringing richness while the lack of dosage keeps everything bright and precise. The newest disgorgement shows lemon, honeycrisp apple, sourdough crust, parmesan rind, dried cranberry, and white flower notes for a layered, balanced, and wonderfully drinkable experience. Gardet’s slightly riper modern style ties it all together, giving you both generosity and cut. Don’t miss out on this!