L'émergente Extra Brut 1500ml Magnum

A Champagne that thrives on tension rather than dosage. 1.7 to 3.5 grams of sugar per litre keep it lean and linear; what remains is candied citrus, white pepper and a creamy yeasty note. Sweetness is nowhere to be found here, but precision is.

The family estate is based in Cuchery in the Marne Valley. Seven hectares are spread across 35 parcels around Cuchery, Baslieux, Leuvrigny, Troissy and Mareuil-le-Port, with vines averaging 33 years old. Chalky clay and alluvial limestone marl give the wines their mineral backbone. Régis Poissinet has farmed biodynamically since 2011: no herbicides, no insecticides, but his own compost made from animal and plant residues and a living mulch of grasses and wildflowers between the vine rows.

Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier make up the blend. Pinot Meunier takes the leading role at this estate, ripening here into Champagnes with depth and ageing potential. Each parcel is vinified separately and only blended afterwards. The minimal dosage demands flawless base wines, since no sugar can mask anything: only wine, yeast, time.

Pale straw yellow, fine perlage. The nose shows green apple and lemon zest, alongside chalk and brioche from lees ageing. The palate opens taut, underscored by salinity, with a long, citrusy finish.

Magnum, 1500 ml, 12.0% ABV, made dry as an Extra Brut. The label carries the Demeter logo. Son Maxime already works alongside in the vineyard.