Summer of Champagne: Grand Cru Selections & Joao Alves De Sa

We're excited to welcome Grand Cru Selections, one of the country's most respected importers of grower Champagne and fine European wines, back to our Summer of Champagne series of tastings. Returning to lead the tasting is João Alves de Sá, whose thoughtful presentations and selections have made him a perennial favorite with our guests. Grand Cru's portfolio consistently showcases distinctive, terroir-driven producers whose wines inspire conversation, reward curiosity, and rank among the finest expressions of Champagne available today. Here's what we'll be showing:

1. Champagne Michel Gonet, Blanc des Blancs Vindey & Montgueux NV - Montgueux and Vindey were separated from the 3 Terroirs blend to showcase their unique personalities. Montgueux delivers mineral, rounded Chardonnay from chalk and flint soils, while Vindey offers floral, fresh, and finely textured character from clay-limestone vineyards. Vinified to preserve purity and freshness, with blocked malolactic fermentation and extended lees aging, this Extra Brut Champagne highlights the distinctive expression of each terroir.

1. Champagne Pierre Peters, Cuvee de Reserve NV - The flagship Champagne at the estate; composed exclusively of Chardonnay from grand cru villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize & Cramant. Generally about 45% current vintage and 55% perpetual reserve going back to 1988. Dosage is normally between 6-7 gm/L.

1. Champagne Robert Moncuit, Les Grands Blancs NV - Les Grands Blancs is a Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is composed of approximately 80% Le Mesnil for tension, chalk-driven freshness, and longevity, and 20% Oger for ripeness, volume, and structural depth. Vinified from very ripe fruit to ensure aromatic precision, the wine undergoes alcoholic fermentation in 350-liter oak barrels with full malolactic fermentation, without racking, fining, or filtration. Aged 10 months on fine lees prior to bottling and a minimum of 36 months on lees in bottle, the cuvée is produced from two consecutive vintages (80% base wine, 20% reserve wine). Zero dosage since the 2019 base, it delivers a precise, mineral, and textural expression.

1. Champagne J.M. Seleque Quintette 5 Terroirs NV - 5 Terroirs for a full expression of racy Chardonnay - 100% Chardonnay 5 terroirs include Vertus 1er Cru - La Justice planted in 1950, Dizy 1er Cru - Moque-Bouteille planted in 1985, Epernay - Les Frileux planted in 1959, Mardeuil - Les Basses Ronces planted in 1982, Pierry 1er Cru - Les Tartières and Les Porgeons planted in 1990 and 1985. Soils: Clayey loam, flinty clay, chalky subsoil Vinification: 100% oak barrels. No fining or filtration. 20% Solera started in 2012. Dosage: 2 g/L - Extra Brut

1. Champagne Chartogne-Taillet, Cuvee Ste Anne NV - Ste. Anne is a village wine, which strives to be a lesson on how the different terroir expressions of Merfy can work together. Generally 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier from vines around 35 years old grown on sandstone, clay and chalk. Dosage: 2.75g/L.

1. Champagne F&R Miniere, Cuvee Influence Brut NV - Influence is the flagship cuvee of the domaine. The varietal blend is 30% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, and 15% Chardonnay. The final blend contains 15% of reserve wines. As is the case with all of their wines, it is aged in oak and the wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation. 30% of the barrels are less than 4 years with the rest being over 5 years old. The wine is aged for 7 years in bottle on its lees. Dosage is 5g/L.