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2019 Philippe Fontaine Cuvee Des Lys Blanc De Blancs Brut, Champagne, France: $85

(Carefully curated notes below are taken directly from the Producer’s website)

Varietal Composition

100% Pinot Blanc

Location

Balnot-sur-Laignes & Les Riceys in the Côte des Bar Region, France

The Terroir:

30-year-old vines; chalky & marley soils from the superior Jurassic era; 590 feet elevation; sustainable farming; estate bottled.

The Champagne:

100% Pinot Blanc Champagne is rare enough, but vintage versions can literally be counted on one hand, so this micro-production wine generates tons of excitement upon every release. Like still Pinot Blancs, it’s fresh and elegant, with aromas of white flower, exotic fruits, pear, cinnamon, and green almond. The palate is generous,

bright, and carries all the aromatics in a luxurious swirl of tight and persistent perlage. The long finish deepens the wine a bit with fuzzy apricot and a bit of warm ginger.

Food Pairing

It’s such a stunning, individualistic wine that it makes for a great apéritif to enjoy all by itself, but it will certainly enhance your seafood dinners (it seems to have a special affinity for lighter octopus and squid dishes like ceviche), quiches, white pizzas, and fruit-centric desserts.

About the producer!

Located in Balnot-sur-Laignes in the Côte des Bar region, Champagne Philippe Fontaine is above all about a history of family and tradition. The Fontaine family has indeed been cultivating their land for centuries. Nowadays, Philippe, his daughter Salomé, and her husband Louis-Antoine run the estate. Most of the vineyards are located in the prestigious Les Riceys part of the region. They are comprised of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% mixed Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. All of Philippe Fontaine Champagnes are handcrafted at the estate, small production, sustainably farmed, and represent a tremendous value in the Grower Champagne category.

Source: https://jp-bourgeois.com/ ; https://jp-bourgeois.com/wineries/philippe-fontaine/