Just south of Epernay, in the limestone hills of the Côte des Blancs, lies the tiny village of Le Mesnil. There, at the center of town, is the original winery of André Robert. Here, the fifth generation of the Robert family, Claire, alongside her partner, Jean-Baptiste Denizart, stands firmly at the helm. When the Last Bubbles team had the opportunity to visit the property, Jean-Baptiste personally toured us through their winery. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, exceptionally precise, and utterly, pervasively charming. He smiles constantly, even when accidentally revealing secrets – like the knowledge of what famous house buys their “leftover” wine that doesn’t pass muster into their own bottling. (He later swore us to secrecy on that count… but trust me, you’d know this house and may have even paid far more for their bottling made with bits of this that didn’t pass the Robert family’s muster).

Les Horizons is based on the 2018 vintage, with 20% of a 2017 reserve wine from the Premier Cru site of Cuis, just south of Epernay. The rest of the fruit hails from Étréchy and Vitry – also Premier Cru villages nearby – with the finishing touch (and signature André Robert style) being granted from the family holdings of some of the best plots of the hallowed Grand Cru site of Le Mesnil. After 10 months aging of the base wine in both vat and barrels, the wine spends just under three years in bottle on the lees before a judicious dosage of 2.5 grams/liter.

The Extra Brut offering perfectly harmonizes the opulence and weight of the oak barrel influence and ripe orchard fruits with the zip, crunch, and intensity of these chalky, cool sites. Expect an entry of toasted hazelnuts, with cardamom and Gala apples, followed up by lemon meringue, star anise, mandarin oranges, and an uplifting finish of chipped flint and Meyer lemon. Simply a delightfully complex, immensely pleasing Champagne that will easily compete with the larger house offerings at two or three times the price! We’re the only ones in the U.S. who have access to this – and while we don’t like to brag (usually) – this is certainly a wine to gloat about and to procure as much as you possibly can! We’ve grabbed the very last of what’s left with this latest disgorgement, and you simply can’t find a better Blanc de Blancs anywhere for less!