“…impressive purity in its richness…” – Jeb Dunnuck

I had to fact-check this thoroughly, but as suspected, we’ve never been able to offer a Vintage Grand Cru grower Champagne like this under $60 before, like ever, since our inception.

So, Ops, today, history is made, as we (sadly) know that in the day and age of tariffs, we will never see another one of these, ESPECIALLY a Blanc de Blancs from Le Mesnil, the region that defines the style.

We’re in the epicenter of the best, as it’s no coincidence, per Wine Enthusiast, “Two of the world’s greatest Champagnes come from one village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The wines are both 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs from the chalk slope known as the Côte des Blancs. Both share the minerality that the ancient seabed imparts, and both are vintage Champagnes that have the enviable ability to age.”

On a cold winter day, way before the word was out, Matt Kramer for Wine Spectator reminisces; “this is the time when I get all misty-eyed looking back on the fast-dwindling year, thinking about all the wines I’ve tasted… namely, single-grower Champagnes. They’ve been avidly pursued in the French market for some time now, but these estate-bottled Champagnes are relatively new here. Like the best Burgundies, quantities are small and each producer has his or her own style. But the quality is eye-opening. These Champagnes taste like wine. And prices are reasonable, too… Look for producers such as Gaston Chiquet, Chartogne-Taillet, René Geoffroy, Jean Lallement, Michel Turgy…”

And to quote prominent wine columnist Dave McIntyre, “Mesnil is an area in Champagne’s Côte des Blancs, where Chardonnay achieves its greatest expression. Wines from Mesnil are typically big and bold flavored (Krug being a prominent example), but Michel Turgy achieves a remarkable finesse and delicacy. And at this price, it’s a relative value.”

Keep in mind that this is a 2015, though, a vintage that Champagne specialist Audrey Frick for Jeb Dunnuck is “impressed with the quality of the top 2015s, despite the overall variability of this warm vintage. It’s a prime example of a vintage relying on its phenolic power over acidity in its structure, and quite a few producers achieved fantastic results.” That warmth adds incredible richness to this wine. Plus, a decade of age brings out stunning layers of tertiaries: marzipan, hazelnut, dried apricot… mmm!

If you’re the savvy connoisseur type, you’ve already checked out with at least 6. If you’re on the fence, we beseech you to try at least a couple of bottles of this at a price you pay for a certain bulk-produced Yellow Label these days. Can hear you coming back, asking for more and thanking us for that lil nudge.

Oh, and grower Champagne always means highly limited. Fair warning!

91 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The 2015 Champagne Blanc de Blancs Millésime Brut pours a yellow/golden hue and is expressive of this warm vintage, with enveloping aromas of lemon confit, poached golden apples, honeycomb, and pastry dough. It retains impressive purity in its richness on the palate, with a coating feel, a fluffy, rounding mousse, and a silky, chalky texture that smooths out the finish with a brothy, savory feel. Drink now or over the coming 10 years. Zero grams per liter dosage. Drink 2024-2035.”