- Nothing like Burgundy, German Pinot Domestic Pinot
- A Steal at this Price ($39.99)
- The Stark Minerality of Great Champagne
- Ravishingly Deep and Powerful Dark Fruit
- Tiny Berry Concentration
- Ravishingly Deep and Powerful Dark Fruit
- Tiny Berry Concentration
- 2019 Gives This Wine the Density You Rarely Get from Still Champagne
When you look at the great expressions of Pinot Noir, Burgundy, of course tops the list. As our long time clients know, Germany is a close second. There are also some interesting Pinots in Oregon, California and the Loire. But perhaps the most interesting Pinot Noir region that most Pinot lovers have not yet tried is in a region that is famous for Pinot, but only in sparkling form. And that region, of course, is Champagne.
Most of us have not tried still Pinot from Champagne for 2 reasons:
1) It is frightfully expensive because great Pinot fruit is generally made into sparkling Blanc de Noirs and sold for a fortune.
2) Champagne is very far north and darned cold so only in warm years can you really have the ripeness that make still Pinot Noir approachable.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, today is your day to try one of the great Pinot Noir regions of the world and, because it's from buy-direct-from-the-winery Fass Selections, it's very (and unusually) affordable.
The 2019 Brice Coteaux Champenois Bouzy Rouge which can be had for $39.99 a bottle on a 4-pack is absolutely hands down one of the best 2019 Pinot Noirs I've tasted from France or Germany.
The 2019 Brice Grand Cru Bouzy Rouge. Bollinger, Lahaye and Egly-Ouriet ($75+) are the standard bearers for this unique and compelling style of wine. I think Brice, who makes 1,000 bottles of this is nipping at their heels. This wine is nothing like Burgundy, or German Pinot Noir or domestic Pinot Noir. It is so wildly distinctive and unique that one must taste at least a dozen Coteaux Champenois to be able to identify what it is. If Enderle and Moll make Spatburgunder that is essentially "Red Riesling," then Brice with this wine is making what can only be called "Red Grand Cru Champagne." I know it sounds ridiculous but that is what this wine is like. It has all that minerality you find in many of the Brice wines, but also ravishingly deep and powerful tiny berry concentrated dark fruits. The fruit in 2019 is beyond anything any of you are ready for. It is crazy. It makes the '15 look like and taste like a rose. It is an explosion like no other. The epic amounts of red fruit soak your palate but it is all on a bed of gravelly/chalky minerality but so utterly infused with the quality concentrated and dense fruits of 2019. It has insane finesse. It is so pretty. Man is this wine pretty. Striking in its intensity and uniqueness assaulting your palate. The finish just is a sop of fruit soaking and pushing to the nether regions of your taste buds. I'm telling you the 19 is like 10 times better than the 15. I've never experienced a vintage swing like this ever. But Coteaux Champenois Rouge is a crazy individual wine. It is a remarkable wine and unlike anything I've ever had before and absolutely delicious. It has serious structure and will age gracefully for 10-15 years. The wine is a steal at this price. Remy Brice told me that it is currently very hip and many wineries are reviving Coteaux Champenois Rouge and making more of it. Who knows maybe more red wine from Champagne in the future. One thing I know is red wine this good does not stay at $39.99 a bottle that long.
2019 Brice Coteaux Champenois Bouzy Rouge - $41.99 ($159.96 4-pack)
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