Champagne Remy Massin Pinot Blanc Special Club 2017

Full transparency...we’ve never, ever, had a bad bottle of Special Club Champagne. It just might be the safest, surest bet in the entire wine world. Read up on the rigorous selection details here, but basically, this is the highest tier that Grower Champagnes can achieve. Part peer review, part expert analysis, all blind. This is one of our house favorites.

Remy Massin is a family-run producer that can trace its roots on the sunny hillsides of Ville sur Acre, all the way back to 1865. Now, five generations of growing grapes later, this exceptional producer consistently crafts some of our favorite cuvees to be found in any corner of the sparkling wine world. Set in the heart of the Cote de Bar region, this is the southernmost edge of Champagne, closely matching the Kimmeridgian soils of nearby Chablis. Their vineyards are predominantly planted to pinot noir, with about 20% dedicated to chardonnay and a scant 5% set aside for the pinot blanc used to make this cuvee.

Pinot blanc is a lesser known but accepted variety in Champagne – though still incredibly rare to see blended in any amount, and especially as a single varietal to make a top-tier wine like this. The aromatics are so beautifully beguiling…like no other Champagne you’ve ever had. Fresh white flowers – alyssum, jasmine, iceberg roses, then golden plums and honeydew melons with flavors of tangerine, ginger shortbread cookies, and chantilly cream...this is simultaneously laser-focused and remarkably friendly, with a long, electrifying, and spicy finish. Of the nearly thirty grower-producers who are members of the illustrious Club de Trésors de Champagne (aka Special Club), this is the ONLY 100% pinot blanc offering to make the cut. It is simply spectacular!

The 2017 release has newly arrived at our warehouse and the anticipation was palpable as we all gathered around to watch the truck unload into our cool room. I really can’t stress enough how rare this is...of the seven grape varieties allowed in Champagne, pinot blanc, arbane, petit meslier, and pinot gris account for only 0.3% of plantings COMBINED! This is a must-have for any Champagne lover...and at the spectacular price we secured? Grab a handful!