2022 Domaine de Marzilly (Ullens), Rose Champagne, Rose de Maceration, Cuvee N.R Extra Brut

The wines of Domaine de Marzilly (Ullens are precise, dense through the mid-palate, and delicate in a way that reads as attention rather than surface style. Though located nearby in Hermonville—sharing the same sandy soils as Chartogne-Taillet in the neighboring village of Merfy—the Ullens style is entirely its own. These wines are expansive yet possess a structural lift that is crunchy, saline, and utterly delightful, all the while yielding an effortless weightlessness. Behind this is Maxime Ullens, a Belgian architect who bought a historic estate in 2012, fell down the rabbit hole, and enrolled at the viticultural school in Avize. He owns and organically farms ungrafted Meunier in the sandy soils of Hermonville. In addition to this slim, rugged parcel, Maxime leased an additional two hectares in the eastern and southern edges of the Montagne de Reims known as ‘La Petite Montagne.’ They supplement their production with purchased fruit, making four hectares worth of wine split between about 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. All of the wines are fermented and aged in barrels made from his own forest before release. If you love grower Champagne with verve, texture, salinity, and nuance, you would not want to miss out here. This is the first release of this wine. 100% Meunier, whole berries infused in a glass globe rather than traditional maceration. Tirage September 2023, disgorged August 2025. Dosage 2.9 g/l using their own liqueur made from red coteaux. Only 1,174 bottles made. Purple fruit, a Provençal lift on the nose, delicate toast underneath, silky texture, and a very fine beaded mousse. Reminiscent of Horiot Sève Rosé de Saignée. It expands beautifully with air.