The fourth generation of the Robert family, Bertrand, still assists alongside his wife, Colette, but it is his daughter, Clare, and her husband, Jean-Baptiste Denizart, who are taking this great estate to unimaginable new levels. Clare came on in 2013, with Jean-Baptiste following soon after. Together they have struck an admirable balance – between carrying on the traditions of her great-great-grandfather Henri (who began farming the land just after World War I), and the modern farming, and winemaking, advances available today. Though far removed from the wine's first home in the hand-carved chalk cellars forged by the Roberts’ forebears, there is something in these wines that almost magically connects each sip to the family’s history – as if you can taste a piece of their home even from thousands of miles away.

The Roberts’ greatness lies in a style guided by their generations of careful farming and the modern stewards’ thoughtful assemblage – all in homage to this land of Le Mesnil that has shaped them as a voice of the soil itself. The village of Le Mesnil sur Oger sits entirely upon east-facing slopes, thickly sheltered by forestland on the hills above – allowing Chardonnay to slowly ripen fully, never sacrificing the elegant, high-toned aromatics or the piercing acidity for which these wines are so prized. 

Jeb calls this “brilliant aromatically” and “the most elegant of the wines so far.” Just pure, romantic stuff, to be certain…with a flavor profile to match! Apple pie filling with cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown butter, followed by notes of chalk, crunchy pear, green peppercorn, ginger, lemongrass, kaffir lime, even more fresh Granny Smith apples – with each sip more compelling than the last. It’s rich, lightly toasty, long, and mineral-driven in the finish. Another great effort from this house that is, without question, one of the most fantastically opulent, richly pleasing, and vinous Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs anywhere! The 10 months aging in French oak barrels, with frequent batonnage stirring, the allowing of malolactic fermentation without insistence, the four years aging on the lees in bottle, and the careful dosage of 3.7 g/liter – these combine to create a powerhouse wine that will blow most any other Champagne out of the water. At only $99, this is a steal, truly, and a quality that surely surpasses wines at double the price! If you’ve had any of this before – you know what an impeccable wine this is, worthy of collection, and a singular bottle guaranteed to impress!