With Christmas and NYE fast approaching, I’ve got what looks like a laundry list of  champers to open for myself and guests – more for myself, but I digress. I’m quite literally bubbling over with excitement as we popped open one of these awesome Grower Champs three-packs this morning! A great day at the ol’ office, to be certain! First up is the 94-point Champagne Fluteau Coeur de Cuvèe Vielles Vignes Extra Brut. Some of our Last Bubbles crew has had the great fortune of visiting the property, and – beyond the stunning vineyards and exquisite Champagnes – we found that this house has even more to offer: a no-nonsense, ever-reverent approach to winemaking, honoring family history, and tending the land. This grand “Coeur de Cuvèe'' (heart of the blend) –  a 100% pinot noir wine with 50% harvested in 2018 from the Fluteau’s historic site of Les Evallons, a single plot planted in 1960, with the other half pulled from their reserve solera cuvèe. Strong aromatics waft from the glass with notes of almond biscuits, cherry blossoms, rose petals, lemon pastry, and a smudge of vanilla bean. The Côte des Bar's signature robust fruit flavors emerge on the palate with sensations of raspberry tartine, juicy peach, orange zest, and lemon, with a tart and mineral undercarriage to balance out the big fruit of it all. 

For many years, the Côte des Bar fought (quite literally) for inclusion in Champagne’s territories, and in 1927, the area got its wish, becoming the fifth growing district of the Champagne-Ardennes area, after the Montagne de Reims, Vallee de Marne, Côte des Blancs, and Côte de Sézanne. It also happens to be the largest winemaking village in all of Champagne since it comprises three formerly fortified villages: Les Ricey-Bas, Les Riceys-Haut, and Les Riceys-Haute-Rive. But even though it’s the largest area in all of Champagne, wines from this village are rather rare. Laura Dechannes, of Christophe Dechannes, and wife of one of our favorite Champenoise winemakers of all time, Arnaud Gallimard, is the person behind Champagne Christophe Dechannes Tradition Brut NV and its 95 point Tasting Panel score. This Tradition cuvèe is 100% pinot noir with 60% coming from the 2021 vintage in the family’s holdings surrounding Les Riceys, and 40% from the family’s perpetual reserve. The wine shows a fleshy richness and elegant opulence – with a preponderance of strawberry, raspberry, cherry, and lime leaf sensations. A creamy, citrus accent – not unlike an old-school creamsicle from the local drug store – follows on the palate, with a conclusion that tightens up considerably, with flecks of minerality and a solid, rocky finish. 

We discovered Champagne Monmarthe Privlège Brut Premier Cru NV, which was rated 94 points, at Paris’ VinExpo a few seasons back, and a visit to the winery made us love it even more! Gauthier Monmarthe, the seventh-generation vigneron, led us through their cellar, and we wrapped up in their salon tasting through their entire portfolio. This “Privilège” cuvee is so named for the elegance and refinement the bottle exudes, which can only be described as a privilege to partake in. A blend of half pinot noir and half chardonnay from Premier Cru parcels over a span of three growing seasons, plus 30% reserve wine to bring in added character and roundness. After no malolactic fermentation, three years on the lees, and a final dosage of 8 g/liter, the result is something ultra-fresh, persistently intense, and ample.

Three magnums of high-quality, excellently elegant Grower Champagne for under $200 is unheard of. But t’is the season – this is the Last Bubbles HQ holiday gift to you. Cin cin and happy holidays!