After WWII, the domaine increased its reach, and served as a standard bearer for the quality possible in the Côte des Bar, becoming available in many places around Europe through the efforts of Bernard Fluteau, who took to the helm in 1970. But it was the ‘90s that really thrust the Fluteau label into overdrive. In 1996, Bernard’s son, Thierry, took over the house of Fluteau with the goal of modernizing production and expanding into more export markets. The venture proved fruitful, and Champagne Fluteau became known on an international scale. In 2008, Thierry’s son, Jeremy, joined the family business after receiving his enology degree from up north in Avize. Now, it is Jeremy, his sister Adeline, and sister-in-law Mathilde Bertillon that run the day-to-day operations of Fluteau.

We should mention, the Fluteau family owns some pretty spectacular vineyards that our team has had the fantastic fortune to visit. I relish the memory of tasting through their portfolio in the cherished Les Evallons vineyard that has been passed down through the generations, all while their precious golden retriever, Panama, crunched on fallen apples from the nearby orchard on a sun-filled autumn day. It was a thought-provoking moment of pristine bliss, and this delightful bottle of Champagne brings us right back. We’ve offered several of their wines in the past, and if you’ve tried them before, you know it’s wise to snag one of our favorite cuvées – emblematic of their stunning winemaking prowess and innovation in the region. 

The winery sits along the road in the charming village of Gyé-sur-Seine, with the vineyards further up into the hills and forests that fortify the region. A highlight of our visit was this iteration of Fluteau’s Rétrospective – a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay – with primary fermentation occurring entirely in 228 liter-French oak barrels – half of which are new, medium toast Champagne barrels. The cuvée stems entirely from the 2020 harvest, with a full 30 months on the lees, and a disgorgement with no additional dosage back in June of 2023.

The aromas lean toward golden apples and apricots, lilacs and peonies – it’s highly perfumed and seductively intoxicating. On the palate, umeboshi plums, white peaches, nectarines, red cherries, saltwater taffy, cider apples, clove, nutmeg, seaspray, with a slate-y, river rock minerality. You will also find dry, crisp pears, lychee, and spice notes of cardamom abounding in this wildly complex wine. There’s a long and precise finish that is one of the most satisfying I’ve ever had in a wine. All of this for under $55? That is something worth celebrating! Burgundy bowls are my choice for this wine, and don’t be afraid to give it a swirl and infuse it with air for optimum enjoyment.