Champagne Ulysse Collin Blanc de Noirs Les Maillons Extra Brut NV (2017 base)

Ulysse Collin! If you know just one grower in the entire Coteaux du Petit Morin region in the south of Champagne – this is the one! Olivier Collin has almost single-handedly put this region on the proverbial map – a story of history, perseverance, downright stubbornness, and yes, eventual triumph that is worthy of Hollywood. These wines are increasingly rare, and ever more expensive every single year – but for those that experience them...worth every single penny! We scored three recent disgorgements of his heralded Blanc de Noirs – from the vineyard of Les Maillons – each with 97 POINT scores from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate. Champagne doesn’t get much more collectible than this, or more delectable – in my opinion. These are incredibly limited, so if interested (who wouldn’t be?!), grab these fine specimens as quickly as you can!

Fun Fact: Ulysse Collin is the ONLY estate in Champagne to release exclusively single vineyard expressions of their wines: Les Pierrièrres, Les Maillons, Les Roises, and Les Enfers. Les Maillons is a 2.5 hectare parcel owner by Olivier Collin, where pinot noir was planted on iron-rich clay soils back in 1971. Old school in most every way, yet never holding to tradition merely for tradition’s sake, Olivier is a pioneer that is as passionate as they come when it comes to his vines and his way of crafting world-class Champagne.

This really is such a fascinating story of an iconic producer – though far too long for telling here. Check out his producer page on the Louis Dressner site for more information...quite the spectacular read! Do this after you secure a few of these fine bottles, of course, a quick bit on each and off you go! The wines are all aged on the lees for three years, and are noted here by the base of the non-vintage blend (usually 40-60%, followed by reserve wines.)