Champagne Copin-Cautel is a six hectare estate in the village of Vandières, on Champagne’s eastern side. The estate focuses on pinot noir, but there’s also a bit of chardonnay and meunier that grows in the vicinity. Husband-and-wife team, Séverine and Philippe Copin, run the day-to-day operations and emphasize low-intervention winemaking, allowing the characteristics of their terroir to shine through. The wines are known for depth, fruitiness and structure. They practice sustainable viticulture to maintain biodiversity and ensure soil health. You can taste the Champagne’s purity because of their emphasis on viticulture. It’s a fun wine to try, so you’ll enjoy it when you drink it!

The Vieille Branche is from the 2014 vintage – a vintage that had some success despite some hardships. The wine is allowed to go through malolactic conversion and only uses the first press juice. At 8.8 grams per liter, this wine is on the higher side of Brut, but its dosage level was deliberately chosen to round out the wine and to bring out all the flavors that are lurking underneath it. The cepage is 51% chardonnay, 39% pinot noir and 10% meunier. 

The flavors and bouquet of this wine are really what make it stand out, though. Expect a chocolate-mocha cream-like dessert aroma on the nose that transitions into golden honey and some dried fruit aromatics. On the palate, the olfactory aromatics transform into palatable sensations that feel like the most decadent indulgence on earth. Not in a sweet way, mind you, as this is not a sweet wine – it’s a standard Brut Champagne – but those weighty and substantial palatal sensations and flavors go no holds barred. You’ll also find some marzipan and possibly a bit of truffle. See what I mean about an indulgent decadence? I wasn’t kidding! But the thing about this decadence is that a glass of dry wine only has under 200 calories, unlike a rich dessert confection, so there’s a clear choice in which one I’d rather treat myself to. I suspect you all will feel the same. This isn’t a Champagne that a lot of folks know about, but it’s certainly one whose praises need to be sung from on high!