Jacques Lassaigne - Les Vignes de Montgueux Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France (NV)

"The latest release of Lassaigne's NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Vignes de Montgueux is a blend of the 2016, 2015 and 2014 vintages, and is disgorged à la volée without dosage. Offering up a lively bouquet of green apples, freshly baked bread, white peach and pastry cream, it's medium to full-bodied, taut and racy, with a lively spine of acidity, lovely purity and a long, searingly chalky finish." Peter Liem

Taken from nine Chardonnay parcels planted across the street from the house, overlooking the valley between Montgueux (almost exlcusively chardonnay terroir) and Troyes. The average age of the vines is 35 years old with 24 months on the lees in stainless steel tanks. 

Emmanuel Lassaigne works 4.7-hectares in Montgueux, in the Aube. The vineyards have prime southeastern exposures and consist entirely of Chardonnay. Montgueux, often referred to as the Montrachet of Champagne, is located near the gates of Troyes—the former capital of Champagne. It’s a unique terroir, and essentially a viticultural island: an isolated outcropping of chalk some distance south of the Côtes des Blancs, but north of the Côte des Bars. The chalky soil encouraged Montgueux’s growers to plant Chardonnay, perfectly suited to the soils.