Champagne Remy Massin et Fils Blanc de Noirs Tradition Brut NV

Remy Massin is a long-standing favorite of ours, making Grower Champagne par-excellence in Côte des Bar’s Ville-sur-Arce since 1865. This classic, 95 POINT Blanc de Noirs is a revelation – especially at our price of over 50% OFF!

Utterly delectable stuff, no question! Remy Massin makes a number of different cuvees, and it seems as though every time we visit and taste with them, their new offerings are even better than the year before. This 100% pinot noir hails from the Massin family holdings in the Côte des Bar, on the southern part of Champagne bordering nearby Chablis. Grown in the sunny Champagne postcard village of Ville-sur-Arce, where pinot noir is king, Remy Massin has solidified itself over five generations as one of the top grower-producers in the Côte des Bar. Hard to imagine now, but just over 100 years ago, the powers that be tried to exclude this region from the classification of Champagne, which ended in violent riots and protests. Things were set to rights after World War I, and the Côte des Bar has been officially Champagne ever since.

Since 1974, this exceptional producer has been bottling their own cuvées – consistently crafting some of the very best to be found in any corner of the sparkling wine world. Truly, Champagne at this level for this price is a dream come true. 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 pinot blanc used in a separate Special Club bottling.

This Blanc de Noirs Tradition cuvée is aged for 24 months on the lees and for this most recent bottling, finished with a 5.5 grams per liter dosage at disgorgement. The aromas and flavors are heady and unctuous, with sweet perfumey white flowers, then white peach, and apricot, with marzipan too, then turning full and creamy – with the perfect kiss of toasted croissants. This is definitely all about the pure, clean, uber-fresh fruit. Beware...this is almost too easy to drink! Glasses of this empty at my house like magic, but when dangerously priced as low as we have today...simply buy a stash and prepare to have two bottles chilled at all times!

PAIRING IDEAS: I last had a bottle of this with an ahi poke bowl...and it was divine! The sushi rice is sharp and slightly sweet, the fish is clean, with an umami marinade pop, and the avocado, cucumber, and toasted sesame oil all provide a contrast of flavors and textures that shines beautifully bright with this spectacular bubbly.