Champagne Philippe Clerget Cuvée Reserve Brut NV

This exceptionally valued Cuvée Reserve is composed of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay – all grown with sustainable practices. The grapes undergo fermentation entirely in stainless steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation to build the wine’s creamy and silky layers. From there, a full 20 months on the lees allows for the integration of flavors, with the final Brut-level dosage at the very end. It’s nothing less than classically styled Les Riceys’ goodness – and one that I’ll happily fold into my own rotation of delectable house bubbles. Philippe and Nathalie's winemaking story is a relatively young one – they only began producing under their own label around 2008. For the three generations before them, the family's purpose was growing: tending 8 plots across 5 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards and selling their fruit to other growers and the local cooperative. The pull toward full creative control eventually proved irresistible, and the rest, as they say, is delicious history. The estate leans heavily on its prized Pinot Noir plantings – 80% of the vineyard – rounded out by 20% Chardonnay, and is well on its way to earning HVE (High Environmental Value) certification, a reflection of the care and ecological stewardship baked into everything they do. The cheery yellow-gold wine bursts forth into the glass, with a fine, zesty mousse that tickles the nose with upfront aromas of raspberries and red cherries, honeyed dates, and a medley of white flowers such as chamomile and honeysuckle. The sip lives up to the aroma’s lofty promise, with bright and fruity sensations taking the lead. Red apples, more cherries, and red berries fill out this amiable core, coated with accents of roasted almonds, lemon verbena, and chalky, crumbled river rocks. The finish is clean, pure, and absolutely mouth-quenching – so beware of how quickly your glass will empty! Luckily, at our amazing price, you can always pop another… and another… and on it goes – at least through the fall and perhaps into the winter and beyond, if you act fast!