To my dear Artisans,
I remain committed to starting all your weeks off right. Here's my proof.
We are proud to be among the first American purveyors to offer what is surely the most incredible Champagne steal in the last ten years.
I drank my sample bottle over three days, and every sip was sublime. I've NEVER experienced that before, at this price.
Previously, this label was exclusively exported only to one country: Japan. That makes total sense, considering Champagne is the perfect pairing with every Japanese dish I can think of. Nevertheless, we deserve this stunning smart buy too.
Most Champagne regions are within the Marne département (by Reims and Épernay), but 2 hours away lies the most southern and underestimated AOC region: the Côte des Bar in the Aube. This "black sheep of Champagne" has exploded in growth over the past decade; the total vineyard area has grown by nearly 20% since 2000 and now makes up almost a quarter of the entire Champagne region.
The Côte des Bar is not some new kid on the block—for about 125 years, they've grown grapes for all the massive negociant 'big guys' up north. You know them—those iconic labels you've seen all your life, on every shelf, everywhere.
Why is the price so low?
Thing is, this region was treated as second class for decades—literally. Because they're actually closer to Burgundy, they were sadly viewed as foreign 'southerners' that were not capable of producing true Champagne by the aristocratic big wigs of the Marne. Residents of Reims and Epernay proudly felt they were the true 'Champenoise' and pushed to exclude the Aube from the official classification of the Champagne region in 1908. This rightfully caused the Côte des Bar growers to riot and protest, only to be classified as "Champagne deuxième (second...) zone" until 1927.
Worse yet, none of their vineyards were designated Grand Cru or even Premier Cru. This answers why the price is so 'cheap' and why we need to be bullish. Right. NOW.
Now we understand how a 125-year-old chip on the shoulder gives the Côte des Bar producers an unrelenting drive to prove themselves. As a result of their risk-taking nature, we greatly benefit from their culture of artisanal, experimental, terroir-driven Champagne at confoundingly low prices.
This bottle is 90% Pinot Noir, 5% Chardonnay, 5% Petit Meunier, and 100% delicious. Base harvest is 2017, and the dosage is a classic 'goldilocks' 9 grams: not so dry that it's austere—yet not too sweet either.
This is Bollinger's precocious little brother. And after one sip, you'll conclude this kiddo is a prodigy.
I made a deal and ordered a pallet to arrive tomorrow, Tuesday, April 19th. I'm passing on the savings to you to help get you stocked for Spring, Summer, Fall, and especially Holidays. I must repeat my warning about imports: don't count on any decent quantity being available by the end of this year. Containers ordered in October of 2021 are just now arriving at the docks stateside.
Today's offer was wordy—but you know it had to be. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful week ahead.
All my best,
—James
