Realistically, you can open any old bottle of bubbly this time of year and a crowd will be happy. (What else would anyone want to drink this time of year?)
But if your present shopping is done and you’ve got money burning holes in your pocket, reach for a more special bottle of bubbles. This is that.
It’s made in Montgueux, a small area nestled in the Southern region of Champagne that has been called “The Montrachet of Champagne,” namely for its ability to turn out pristine Chardonnay-based blanc to blanc.
The Lassaigne family is somewhat of Champagne legends, based out of a small corner of Montgueux. When son Emmanuel took over from Jacques in 1999, he started making both wines from individual vineyards and more experimental bottlings, trying to decipher and discover other paths to making Champagne.
His wines are now hand crafted with the dedication of a level of a mad scientists — all grapes are picked by hand and all vines are vinified naturally, He only releases five cuvees a year, plus a quirkier ‘experimental’ bottle he’s excited about. “It would be very boring to have every year the same,” he once told Decanter.
This is his entry-level option — a safe option, but incredibly exciting for those who know. It’s plush, sleek, and electric — fresh and full of white flowers and citrus. $75
