Description

That is, until the early 1970s when Champagne started gaining mass popularity, and Jean Velut realized that he was sitting on perfect terroir for growing Chardonnay to meet that demand. For Montgueux sits is a massive outcropping of chalk jutting out from the flat fields of wheat, and Chardonnay loves chalk. Jean’s original vines were on the plain, but he, along with a handful of mavericks, began planting up the steep, chalky slopes to find more sun and less frost. Since then, Jean’s son Denis and now grandson Benoit have continued to work this land and make fantastic, clean Champagne. Benoit recently transitioned the estate to fully organic practices – not easy in the cold, wet Champagne region. They do everything themselves (there’s just one full-time employee), from plowing in between the rows (to avoid herbicides), to riddling the bottles. This is bright, elegant and precise Champagne, it’s sharp Chardonnay edges softened by the addition of the rounder, softer Pinot – we love how light and clean it finishes, with no yeasty, brioche notes weighing it down. A crowd-pleasing, wallet-friendly, organic Champagne for the holidays – what’s not to love?