We love when containers full of Champagne hit the loading dock, just a joyous feeling that makes you forget you are working, with deadlines to meet! This bone-dry, toasty, highly-drinkable, and zippy new release drinks like something FAR more expensive than what you’ll pay today! 

Maison Gardet was established in the late 19th century when Charles Gardet, an entrepreneurial wine merchant, founded this house in Epernay. His son, Georges Gardet, moved the house to the charming village of Chigny-les-Roses in the 1930s. Today, the estate is owned by the  Prieux family, with Christophe Prieux running both this and the neighboring domaine of Maison Ployez-Jacquemart. The Prieux family’s roots to Champagne can be traced to the 1600s, and with Gardet’s rise in quality over the short few years of his ownership… this just might be the best Champagne house you’ve never heard of. 

Over the past few years, we’ve been blown away by the steady improvement of quality amongst the Gardet portfolio. This is an ancient house that has thrived under new ownership and a full-scale facility modernization. Tucked away between the two major cities of Champagne – Reims and Epernay – Chigny-les-Roses is an absolute must see. The village is nested right in the vineyards, standing against a cliff shelf, topped by the region’s dark green forest. A number of well-known producers have chosen this quaint village as their base, including Jay Z’s Armand de Brignac (aka Ace of Spades) and the Lasalle family. 

This Zero Dosage is a brand new cuvée for the winery that spends a staggering 7 years aging in the winery's cold cellar before being disgorged! Built from all Grand Cru and Premier Cru fruit, this is blended with a high percentage of barrel-aged reserve wine which gives plenty of richness while the lack of dosage keeps things fresh and zippy. DON’T miss this one! “Zero dosage” simply means no additional sugar is added, so the wine is terrifically fresh and bright, complex, and minerally through and through. Gardet’s style under cellarmaster Stephanie Sucheyre is a bit riper than years past, so you’ve really got the best of both worlds here – full notes of apple, brioche, and guava notes, with lemon cream and bright kumquat. In a word… delicious. Or at least it will be while we have it!