Grande Vallée Extra-Brut R. Pouillon & fils

Fabrice Pouillon, head of his family estate, certainly isn’t lacking in creativity. Here, he offers us the Grande Vallée cuvée, which he considers to be an emblem of his work thanks to its accessibility and for the way it accurately reveals the identity of its terroir. It’s also a special one; this extra-brut isn’t reproduced identically every year, but rather reflects the finest possible blend of that particular harvest year. This wine is made from 65% Pinot Noir grapes and the remainder of the blend is made up of Chardonnay and Meunier grapes, all of which are carefully grown within the Avenay, Mutigny, Mareuil, Festigny and Epernay terroirs. Vinification takes place in different containers, such as demi-muid, barrels and small vats. The wine is aged in barrels and French oak casks before being aged in bottles for six to nine months after harvesting. They are then aged laid down in the cellar for 18 months to two years.
Its aromatic richness is undeniable with notes of white fruits, almonds, pine nuts and honey. On the palate, it is fruity with flavours of pepper, quince and nuts. The bubbles are small and fine and the finish is lively. This is, without a doubt, a delightful champagne.