The Déthune family is one of the oldest in Ambonnay, on the Montagne de Reims, having tended vines on the village’s privileged slopes since the early 17th century. Today Pierre Déthune and his wife Sophie have 7ha planted to 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay, all entirely within the Ambonnay Grand Cru site and all organically farmed according to biodynamic principles. If these Grand Cru vineyards were owned by the big houses (think Bollinger, Moet, Taittinger, etc.), these fantastic wines would be well over $100, without question. 

Paul Déthune is truly one of those hype-worthy, sommelier-fave grower Champagnes that drinks so meteorically above its price point, it dazzles the senses. Serious, but not pompous, terrifically rich, intense, beautifully-made grower bubbly that eclipses the vast majority of the big-name stuff. Pure freshness and untamed verve without sacrificing the ripe fruit orchard characteristics that is definitively Ambonnay. Bright, mineral, and deliciously aromatic with warm toasty croissant dough, honeysuckle, apricot, and orange blossom. Dry but not austere, beautifully generous, long, and intense to the very last sip. 

Pierre Déthune has created his own style of Champagne – rooted in tradition to his family that hails back to 1610, yet ever-evolving towards the future – with the one constant being the rolling grasslands of Ambonnay. Faithful to the house's traditional methods, the Grand Cru Brut is aged and vinified in 205-liter oak barrels before bottling and aging on the lees for 60 months – a full five years. The wine was finished with a dosage of 9 g/liter back in May of last year, and 14+ months later, this 94 point effort is really strutting beautifully. 

The vineyard practices natural and organic techniques such as integrated pest management, solar power, and a complete lack of chemical use in the vineyard. With Ambonnay set as arguably the center point of the grower Champagne movement, the Déthunes have set an example – positioning a benchmark that all others should strive to achieve. Pedigreed perfection in this bottle, and a worthy Champagne for any occasion!