Frédéric’s grandfather, René Savart, purchased his first vines in 1947, and René’s son, Daniel, took over the winemaking duties in the 1970s. Daniel expanded the family’s vineyard holdings in the ‘80s and eventually passed the estate down to Frédéric in 2005 when the family’s wine reputation really took off. Frédéric, forever a student and innovator of his craft, is known to have friends over for dinner and then blind-taste them based on his recent wine obsessions and new finds. He displays a fierce urgency to preserve the 6 hectares of Premier Cru vineyards he owns in the neighboring villages of Écueil and Villers-aux-Noeuds, employing a holistic approach to farming with sustainable disease-prevention techniques when tending to his chardonnay and pinot noir vines.

Frédéric’s winemaking style is decidedly avant-garde. Although he clearly weaves tradition and history into his approach, most of his wines experience fermentation in stainless steel to amplify the freshness factor, though some are introduced to barriques. He also approaches malolactic fermentation on a case-by-case basis, making his call depending on the specifics of a vintage and the peculiarities of an individual wine. In general, cuvees that incorporate reserve wine will experience at least partial malo to allay any side effects from additional heating and cooling cycles. As for dosage, he generally likes to keep it low MCR (concentrated and rectified grape must) for a more neutral finish while enhancing the flavor profile of his wines.

This wine is composed of 100% pinot noir, entirely from the sandy soils of Frédéric’s Écueil vineyard. With a 2020 base and 25% reserve pulled from the 2018 and 2019 vintages, it exudes complexities and brightness. Half of the wine experienced fermentation in mostly neutral barrels, the other half in stainless steel, with partial malolactic fermentation. The creamy mousse gives way to a lively expression of almonds, followed by red apple, golden plums, lemons, orange blossom, white nectarine, Rainier cherries, and a sense of chalky minerality, leading into a final foray of jasmine and acacia flowers, white pear, a shake of baking spices, crushed gravel, and some warm, fresh brioche to finish. Such a compelling and lively Champagne, with layers of intrigue that propel you to finish off your glass in less time than anticipated. We can’t help but continue singing the well-earned praises of Frédéric Savart, and are floored by this approachable yet magnificent offering for well under $80! A Champagne to be celebrated and savored – don’t miss out!