Champagne Francis Orban Extra Brut NV

The Orban story truly begins back in 1929 when Léopold Orban stopped selling his grapes to larger houses in Epernay and started producing Champagnes of his own. This made him one of the very first grower-producers in his village – and the beginnings of a family run house that continues today. Now, four generations later, Francis Orban has taken over the family business, focusing on the Pinot Meunier grapes that account for 90% of his 18 hectares of vineyards.

Here in the Marne, on the sandy, clay-rich soils, Pinot Meunier thrives like nowhere else in Champagne… producing wines packed with fresh berry and red fruit notes, and typically spiced with white pepper and clove sensations. While Meunier has long been given a reputation as merely a blending grape, houses like Francis Orban are seamlessly changing the tide and showing just how exquisite and complex this singular grape can be. It is a classic Champagne for lovers of food, and perhaps one of the more flexible wines of any sort to serve at your table.

This single-varietal wine blends together 50% harvest wine and 50% reserve wine, aging on the lees for 36 months and receiving a slight 3 g/L dosage to give the wine some polish while keeping everything light and bright. Taste and smell myriad orchard and citrus fruits – from orange rind to pear compote, to quince paste and green apples, with spicy notes of pickled ginger and white pepper. Fresh whipped cream covered wild strawberries and spring flowers develop on the finish, with rounding touches of toasty brioche and a kiss of orange acidity near the long-winded finale. Laser-focused with ample layering, this is a remarkable Champagne that deftly balances complexity and flat-out deliciousness. Enjoy!