CELLAR CHOICE

Champagne Frederic Savart L’accomplie Extra Brut

Festive bubblies

Frederic Savart is a dedicated sustainable grower producer who makes some of the most compelling Champagnes from his tiny holdings in Ecueil and Villers-aux-noeuds. L’accomplie (“accomplished” in French) takes its blend from 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, but with complex finesse – the base vintage makes up 50% of the blend, while the other half comes from the previous vintage. This bubbly presents itself in many layers, unfolding as it reveals apple and white fruit with a spine-tingling amount of acidity, with savoury and distinctive aromas adding to sensory experience as the soft fine bubbles hit your palate.

$85 from WEA Wines Écueil

Covering over 700 hectares in Montagne de Reims, Ecueil is mostly planted to Pinot Noir, and tends to have more sand based soils. Mostly classified premier cru.

Villers-aux-noueds

Also mostly classified premier cru, the small village of Villers-aux-noueds is located bordering Ecueil. Its 28 hectares under vine are half planted to Pinot Noir, and generally has chalkier soils.

Premier Cru

While there are 17 Grand Cru villages in Champagne, there are 43 Premier Cru classified villages, all located in Marne.