The Côte des Bar is a part of the Aube, the southernmost winemaking region in the Champagne area. It’s a stone’s throw from Burgundy, and shares the same Kimmeridgian clay soils (and grape variety – pinot) as that region, imparting that lovely minerality that is so coveted in Champagne. The Aube and Côte des Bars have gained a reputation for rogue winemaking mavericks who do things with a little extra flair and pizzazz, despite what conventional rules have dictated, and the result has been masterful, interesting, character-drenched wines that are criminally underrated. But not any longer!

André Diligent was founded in the village of Buxeuil with 10 hectares of vines, and today, the vines range in age from 15-40 years old. Most are Pinot Noir, with a bit of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc thrown in. The family still runs the maison, helmed by Joel and Patrick Diligent, who are in the process of turning over the reins to their sons, Thomas and Aurelien. The maison only makes a few cuvees, but they are top quality with meticulous attention to the expressions of the unique terroir of the Côte des Bars.

The cepage of this 2013 vintage is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The vintage expresses great fruitiness, and lemon verbena and zest are evident on both the nose and the palate, along with stewed pome fruits and racy acidity that makes your mouth water. It’s the perfect choice for a fancy multi-course meal or an at-home Netflix sesh on the sofa alike. There’s a purity of fruit here, yet a generosity of the wine that makes it a perfect match for just about anything. We can’t get enough of it, and highly recommend it for all your near and far bubbly needs!