La Varoce Extra Brut 2022

La Varoce Extra Brut 2022 is Jérôme Blin's Meunier-driven Champagne from Vincelles: juicy in fruit, dry in structure, layered without heaviness. The 2022 vintage forms the base, with reserve wines lending depth.

Vincelles lies on the south bank of the Marne, about 20 kilometers west of Épernay. There, Jérôme Blin farms six hectares along biodynamic principles: two Comtois draft horses, Naya and Quartz, plough the vineyards, while the sheep Chouquette keeps the grass between the rows short. The family has grown grapes in the village since 1671; Jérôme Blin took over in 2007 and began the conversion in 2012. The vines for this cuvée grow on chalky-marl and clay soils.

60 percent Meunier, 30 percent Chardonnay, 10 percent Pinot Noir, all from vines around 35 years old. Vinification took place in stainless steel, with tirage in March 2023. After nearly three years on the lees, the Champagne was disgorged in January 2026 with a dosage in the extra-brut range.

The nose opens with raspberry and semi-dried sour cherry, joined by green apple, lemon and acacia blossom, creamy pastry notes, almond and pistachio; garrigue, graphite and crushed stone set a savory, austere counterpoint. On the palate, raspberry and cherry meet pear and quince, carried by fine-beaded carbonation and silky creaminess. The dosage supports the fruit without masking the dry, polished structure. The finish turns tauter and more mineral.

70 percent of the estate's vineyard area is planted with Pinot Meunier, the signature grape of the Vallée de la Marne, and each parcel is vinified separately. La Varoce shows this style in an approachable form: a balance of fruit, richness and freshness.