2018 Grongnet - Champagne Brut Special Club (750ml)

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In 1885, Edmond Grongnet bought some vines and set up his wine press in Etoges, a village in the fabled Cote des Blancs just a few kilometers from much better-known Épernay. That cellar stands in its original location to this day! Since then, five separate generations have continued producing tiny quantities of champagne from that cellar, however the wines are now farmed organically and crafted entirely by women.

Seeking out Special Club champagne is a marvelous way to ensure you're tasting unique, tiny production wines that represent the very best of independent growers' efforts that year. They come from the Club des Trésors storefront in Épernay, which serves as a unified sales outlet to help tiny growers sell their wines in a larger collective, and puts forth the finest of tiny production champagnes from each grower. The Club des Trésors was founded in 1971 by twelve of the oldest families in the Champagne wine region, and with each passing year they slowly added other tiny producers who added their pride and joy from that year. By combining forces, they hope to succeed in selling their wines as readily as larger champagne houses (who not only have seemingly endless marketing and gift packaging budgets, but who also benefit from historic international reputations which have lasted for centuries).

The easily recognized Special Club bottle always comes in a squat, heavier bottle and always indicates you're getting the best wine from that grower from that year's production. This Brut champagne is an excellent value and a treat to drink - refreshing and dry, with a sneaky 7g/L of dosage that skillfully serves to enhance both the breadth and minerality of this bottling. This wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation, and is crafted from 45% Chardonnay and 55% Pinot Noir. Grongnet recommends pairing with soft dishes like quenelles or ravioli in sauce, fish, pâtés, vegetable flans, or creamy cheeses. A steal for a delicious, characterful bottle that will greatly reward aging!