François Lecompte is but the latest in a long familial line of grower producers that have made Champagne from this estate going back to 1876. The family is fiercely proud of their long-standing “recoltant-manipulant” status (meaning they grow their own grapes to produce their own wines), and one sip is all it will take to make you understand why.

This vintage Extra Brut bottling melds together 40% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir, and 30% pinot meunier from the Lecompte plots in and around Rilly-la-Montagne, in the Montagne de Reims. Rich and buttery on the nose, with elements of pastry dough, salted caramels, and fresh cream butter. In the mouth, notes of tangerine and red cherries develop, followed by red apples, and a luscious pear jam. A bright and tart finish presents a clean and hyper-fresh bite at the close, with a juicy acidity that consistently demands another sip… which I happily oblige! 

The crafting of these wines is traditional, yet refined, and highly selective – especially for a small grower portfolio such as this. The Lecompte team only uses “La Cuvee” for their wines – meaning the first juice, from the first pressing of their grapes only, with the rest being bulked off and sold. Their cut of this premium juice is allowed to spontaneously ferment with native yeasts, and will eventually undergo a natural malolactic fermentation as well. Somewhat unique is the winery’s elevage prior to bottling… which typically occurs in July or August, nearly a full year after harvest, to allow for optimal integration of the base wine in tank before bottling to age on the lees. Seven years aging on the lees, with a miniscule dosage of 3 grams per liter completes the process, and yields this tasty result. This is our second wine from François Lecompte here on Last Bubbles – and most certainly not the last. All the wines in the portfolio that we’ve tasted have a purity and sense of place, and just the perfect balance of elegance and traditional bearing. At under $50 – this is a steal for quality Grower Champagne, so take three minutes from your Turkey preparations and snag a few of this for your collection… you’ll be thankful you did!