Champagne Vincent Testulat Les Rennes de Pierry Extra Brut NV

Just south of Épernay, on the border of the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs, lies the village of Pierry – a Premier Cru site revered as the workshop of Benedictine brother Jean Oudart, a contemporary of Dom Pérignon who is often overlooked for his contributions to modern-day Champagne. The village grows all of Champagne’s principal grapes quite well – as this land marks the transition in soils from the chalk and limestone riddled Côte des Blancs into the heavier clays and silts of the Vallée de la Marne. For this “Les Rennes de Pierry” Extra Brut, the cepage is an even split of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc (an extremely rare grape that has long been authorized to make Champagne), all grown on a single plot first planted with Chardonnay, and later with Pinot Blanc. The vineyard is one of the Testulat family’s most cherished, and has been farmed under the High Environmental Value label since 2016. The fruit is a 2021 base and comes from a parcel at the mid-slope of the vineyard, facing south and east, with clay and silt soils fragmented with flint. Vibrant, punchy, and almost (almost!) too easy to drink, this Champagne opens with bright and forward notes of green plum and green apple, accentuated perfectly with sweet cream. It dances across the palate nimbly as a feather, while added flavors of dandelion flower, celery, and lemon candy give this a crunchy, gregarious presence that works beautifully with the lingering minerality of river stones on the finish. If you’re looking for your next savvy Champagne buy… look no further!