Champagne Anthony & Clémence Toullec Assemblage Extra Brut Premier Cru NV
This little-known Montagne de Reims producer sets the bar for Premier Cru winemaking in this corner of Champagne. With 95 points on this 50/50 blend of pinot noir and chardonnay – we’re expecting this rising star producer to become a household name!
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Why We Love It...
Anthony and Clémence are the fifth generation of a family who farm four hectares of chardonnay, pinots noir, and meunier in the Montagne de Reims. These 24 diverse parcels are located in Rilly la Montagne, Sacy, Montbré, Taissy, and Avenay Val d’Or – offering up a series of soil types and micro-climates that allow the duo to weave complex tapestries of flavors within the Montagne de Reims. Currently, a portion of their fruit is contracted over to the revered Grande Marque house of Pol Roger – and old Winston Churchill favorite – but the hope is, as their Grower Champagne projects continue to build international recognition, less and less fruit will leave the Toullec’s qualified hands with each passing harvest.
Anthony and Clémence are avid proponents of low-intervention winemaking, preferring to let the wine, climate, and terroir speak for itself – and take great pains to ensure the cellar and winery where this magical alchemy occurs is kept surgically sterile as a result. Indigenous yeast fermentation is utilized to maintain that sense of terroir, with each lot fermented separately to further add to each parcel’s unique expression of the land. Extensive aging on lees grants these carefully constructed blends to develop exceptional complexity and depth… these truly are some simply fantastic Champagnes that inspire no shortage of deep thought and lively conversation.
This Toullec Assemblage is 50-50 pinot noir and chardonnay, aged half in barrel and half in tanks for about 10 months prior to bottling. During this time, the Champagne was allowed to go through partial malolactic fermentation, so there’s this lovely balance between both a creaminess and linear intensity to this wine that intrigues the palate. A lengthy 46 months on the lees in bottle followed, enabling a gorgeous integration and layering of components to occur naturally. Let me tell you, I absolutely love this wine’s complexity! The flavors run the gamut, from the Meyer lemon citrine notes and delectable stone fruit flavors of peach and apricot, leading into bright and tart flavors of red raspberry and currants. Toss in some buttery brioche, and flaky pie crust notes, with the alluring finish of vanilla-infused chantilly cream, and this just pumps out happiness. At 51% off, this is one Champagne you should add to your bubbly arsenal before we sell out! This high-scoring rarity is a fitting choice for any bubbly connoisseur – heft, lift, and a percolating exuberance all at the same time – just masterfully done Grower Champagne done right!
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Anthony & Clémence Toullec Champagne