Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceCuvée Sainte Anne Brut is sourced from the village of Merfy in the Montagne de Reims, with vineyards on the southern slopes of the Massif de Saint-Thierry (initially planted in the 7th century). It is the only grower of champagne from the village, and the family has wine-growing roots back to 1485; the remaining vineyards in Merfy are claimed by co-ops or go to larger houses. Based on the 2020 vintage, with 20% reserve wines, this bottle was 50% chardonnay, 40% noir, 10% meunier, organically farmed, and native fermented in older wood before heading to bottle, and finished with a dosage of 4 g/L in October 2022. Ripe and doughy, with cushy red fruit, ample dried apple, and brioche across a red licorice-laced palate, framed by an oxidative bent. True to house style and very consistent. If you like more toasted, oxidative, richer wines, here you go. If you prefer fresher and more precise champagnes, do look elsewhere.Tasted: 27 April 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceThough it changes from year to year, Cuvée Sainte Anne Brut is sourced from the village of Merfy in the Montagne de Reims. It is the only grower champagne from the village and the family has wine growing roots back to 1485; the rest of the vineyards in Merfy are claimed by co-ops or go to larger houses. Based on the 2019 vintage, with 20% reserve wines, this bottle was 50% chardonnay, 40% noir, 10% meunier, organically farmed, and native fermented in older wood before heading to bottle, and finished with a dosage of 4 g/L. Dough, red apple fills a generous palate, one shaped and sculpted with lemon pith and peel, and somewhat textural and wild, thanks to time and wood and no filtration before bottling. Lovely authenticity here.Tasted: 20 July 2022Tasted by: Prices:
Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceThough it changes from year to year, Cuvée Sainte Anne Brut is equal parts chardonnay/pinot noir, sourced from the village of Merfy in the Montagne de Reims. It is the only grower champagne from the village and the family has wine growing roots back to 1485; the rest of the vineyards in Merfy are claimed by co-ops or go to larger houses. This is 60 percent from 2014 vintage, and 40 percent from 2013, disgorged December 2016. Farmed organically and wild fermented there’s no filtration that gives an earthy wildness to this oxidative-leaning champagne. Earthy, mushroom, brioche, toasted almond on a dense core of red apple and finishing with fine, nutmeg dusted spicing. Serious, striking, earthy style, with a slight oxidative swing.Tasted: 01 May 2017Tasted by: Prices:
Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceThough it changes yearly, Cuvée Sainte Anne Brut is equal parts chardonnay/pinot noir sourced from the village of Merfy in the Montagne de Reims. It is the only grower of champagne from the village, and the family has wine-growing roots back to 1485; the remaining vineyards in Merfy are claimed by co-ops or go to larger houses. Farmed organically and wild fermented, there's no filtration that gives an earthy wildness to this textured champagne. Nuts, dried apples, light toast and lees on the nose carry through to the fine, light, bone-dry palate that rings with salt, smoked stone, apple and light oxidative notes. Nuts linger on the finish. Pour as an aperitif; it's worth the solo investigative sipping.Tasted: 10 December 2015Tasted by: Prices: