For nearly 300 years, the Vesselle family has been farming the chalky soils of Bouzy and cultivating some of the village’s best-placed pinot noir vines for generations. And yet, just down the road, in the Côte des Blancs, lies the Grand Cru of Chouilly – and some of the most prime chardonnay vines in all of Champagne. A small portion of the already rare 10% of the family’s chardonnay holdings, this is the pedigreed chardonnay, expressed masterfully by the normally pinot-obsessed Vesselle clan. The hand harvested fruit from these 15-30 year old vines is fermented with indigenous yeast in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks prior to aging for six years on the lees, prior to finishing without any dosage (and only about 1.5 grams per liter of natural sugar remaining).

The resulting wine is rich and luminous – with fleshy and ripe aromas and flavors of navel oranges, tangerines, honeysuckle, and caramelized pineapple, ascending into a salty, mineral, and dry finish. The rose gold mousse is frothy and lively, carrying through to a soft finish, with the overall effect of the wine ample and pleasing to the last drop. Rarely are Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs so stylishly opulent, and the Vesselle clan has succeeded in making this a wine of great depth and friendliness – and ready for your profound enjoyment! Sadly, just under ten cases available – but certainly a wine to treasure and share!