In the early 1900s, the Fluteau family’s homebase of the Côte des Bar wasn’t even considered part of Champagne. In 1911, a classification excluded the entire Aube region, where the Côte des Bar is located – forcing producers to label their wines as "Champagne deuxième zone" or essentially "second-class Champagne." It was largely thanks to the Fluteaus and a few other pioneering houses that the region eventually gained official recognition – though the prestigious Grand Cru and Premier Cru status was still denied. Despite these limitations, the Fluteaus proved the critics wrong, producing wines that stand as a grand testament to the Côte des Bar’s exceptional potential!

Several members of the Last Bubbles crew have had the immensely delightful privilege of visiting the estate. Beyond the breathtaking vineyards and exceptional Champagnes, we discovered a deeply pragmatic and humble approach to winemaking. Since 1935, the Fluteau family has worked the land in the tranquil village of Gyé-sur-Seine, with Jeremy Fluteau leading the winemaking today, while his sister Adeline manages administration and sales. Jeremy’s no-nonsense, almost engineer-like approach to crafting high-quality Champagne reflects somewhat oppositely in the wines themselves – expressive, vibrant, and full of energy, yet grounded in both tradition and innovation.

Take, for example, the “Coeur de Cuvee” (Heart of the Blend) – a 100% Pinot Noir made from a 50/50 blend of fruit harvested in 2018 from the historic Les Evallons site, a plot planted in 1960, and reserve solera wines. Primary fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with malolactic fermentation adding stability and preserving freshness. Strong aromatics waft from the glass with notes of almond biscuits, cherry blossoms, rose petals, lemon pastry, and a smudge of vanilla bean. The Côte des Bar signature robust fruit flavors emerge on the palate with sensations of raspberry tartine, juicy peach, orange zest, and lemon, with a tart and mineral undercarriage to balance out the big fruit of it all. This 94-point Champagne, with its generous, vibrant character, is sure to impress and win the hearts of all who taste it – the name says it all!