We highly appreciate an estate that knows their values and sticks to them. While the wines and vineyards are not certified organic, the Robin family has long held to these practices, as well as many other sustainability efforts throughout their small operation. It’s a rather costly and time-consuming affair, you see, getting that official certification – and the Robin family is simply too distracted making world-class bubbly for me to drink on the regular! Only kidding, of course, but there is no doubt these folks are doing it all the right ways. They recapture water used throughout various stages of the grape growing and winemaking processes, and then treat, clean, and reuse this water again. Vineyards are tended predominantly by hand, to minimize the ecological impact, and also to better understand the needs of each vine. The proof is in the bottle, as they say, and I’m sure convinced!

In 1973, Anne and Jacques Robin, only 18 and 23 years of age respectively, planted their first plot in Sorbée. The parcel would mark the beginning of their foray into the realm of Grower Champagne, keeping their day jobs as they slowly built the brick-and-mortar winery of their dreams. Other parcels of vines would soon follow, with 22 plots in total, now scattered across the limestone and clay hillsides in the valleys of Aube, Arce, Ource, and Seine. In the ‘90s, their children, Sébastien and Aude, took the helm with degrees that formalized their life’s passion. Now, with the inclusion of the third generation, Séverine, the Robin family is thriving here in the Côte des Bar, in the tiny village of Buxières sur Arce where the family has lived for more than 300 years.

For this 100% pinot noir, the fruit was fermented at cool temperatures – in an effort to retain the fresh and delicate aromas that make for a simultaneously bright and rich pinot noir. The initial aromas showcase red apples and Bartlett pears, with a background element of paraffin wax. Nectarines and peaches come forth on the palate, with high tones of dried flowers, cranberries, white cherries, and Eureka lemons. There is a lightly oxidative, sherry-esque note that gives a tart elegance to the rich and creamy finish – which in itself reveals playful spice and herb notes of pink peppercorns and chervil.

We gathered up everything slated to be imported here to the USA, and we hope this will be enough to satiate all of those who missed out on our last Jacques Robin offer. Phenomenal stuff that is zippy, yet layered and deeply complex, too…just the sort of bubbles I like to pop on the regular! Cheers!