Bérêche Champagne Ludes Premier Cru Les Beaux Regards 2019

Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche are the young innovators behind this old family domaine founded in 1847. The fifth generation to head the estate (Raphaël joined his father in 2004), they are unceasingly curious and meticulous, garnering immense attention in France and now in the US. The estate's vineyards are planted with roughly equal parts of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier. They have been turning their attention to natural viticulture, having completely stopped using chemical herbicides in 2003, and converting to biodynamic since 2007. They have slowly been increasing the percentage of oak used in the cellar, and today about three-quarters of the production is vinified in barrel. Disgorging is still done entirely by hand, and they use a traditional liqueur for dosage.

This 100% Chardonnay cuvée comes from a .45ha plot of 50-year-old vines in the Beaux Regards and les Clos parcels, in the premier cru village of Ludes. The wine spent more than 36 months on lees before disgorgement. Preserved lemon, crisp apple skin and spicy and herbal tones here. A gastronomic expression with a persistent finish. Sustainably grown, vegan.