Côte des Bar, Champagne, FranceBased in the Aube, which shares the same Portlandian and Kimmeridgian limestone soils as Chablis just further south, young Remi farms 3 of his family's organic 9ha under this label; the rest of the grapes are sold to large champagne houses. This current Extra Brut, his largest production wine at 25K bottles / year, is based on 2021 (v21) and blends 70% pinot noir, 20% pinot meunier, 10% chardonnay, with 20% reserve wines. Primarily fermented in stainless, with full MLF, 20% saw wood aging prior to 2 years sur lattes and 2 g/L dosage, in April 2023. Crunchy red and green apple, white cherry streaks across a buzzy limestone palate, with streaks of cider and ample salinity. An authentic, pure, and natural look at Côtes des Bar.Tasted: 16 November 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Côte des Bar, Champagne, FranceBased in the Aube, which shares the same Portlandian and Kimmeridgian limestone soils as Chablis just further south, young Remi farms 3 of his family's organic 9ha under this label; the rest of the grapes are sold to large champagne houses. This current Extra Brut, his largest production wine at 25K bottles / year, is based on 2019 (v19) and blends 65% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay, and 5% meunier, with 20% reserve wines. Primarily fermented in stainless, with full MLF, 20% saw wood aging prior to 2 years sur lattes and 2 g/L dosage, in January 2022. Very red fruited, with tart red currant, cherry, cranberry streaking across the palate, cored with bright lemon and green apple. There's a toasted meringue hug around the sides, with slight oxidative kisses throughout. All is riveted by a buzzy limestone base, which continues to vibrate on the salt studded finish.Tasted: 02 December 2022Tasted by: Prices:
Côte des Bar, Champagne, FranceBased in the Aube, which shares the same Portlandian and Kimmeridgian limestone soils as Chablis just further south, young Remi farms 3 of his family's organic 9ha under this label; the rest of the grapes are sold to large champagne houses. This bottle is 75% pinot noir, 25% chardonnay, native fermented and rested on lees until the following spring, and was based on the 2017 vintage. Chisled and focused, with white cherry, green apple, lemon driving this powerful, energetic wine forward, scented with cherry blossoms and textured with a fine, chalky grip. A bright, sharp go-to.Tasted: 14 February 2021Tasted by: Prices:
Côte des Bar, Champagne, FranceBased in the Aube, which shares the same Portlandian and Kimmeridgian limestone soils as Chablis just further south, young Remi farms 3 of his family's organic 9ha under this label; the rest of the grapes are sold to large champagne houses. Based on the 2014 vintage, with 55 pinot noir, 46 chardonnay and 20 percent reserve wines, my bottle was disgorged in October 2018 with a dosage of 4.6g/l. This was native fermented in 85 percent stainless (remainder in older oak), with full MLF before three years on lees, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Almonds, salt studded biscuit, lemon dough, perfumed cherry blossoms are held taught around a core of green apple, riveting with acidity. Such beautiful balance and finesse here. Rémi has quickly become one of the top vignerons to watch in Champagne.Tasted: 14 March 2019Tasted by: Prices: