Champagne Friday: Visiting the Vineyard at Champagne Aspasie

By: Gary Westby | K&L Champagne Buyer

Visiting the Vineyard: Champagne Aspasie

On my trip to Champagne, I had a chance to join Paul-Vincent Ariston in the tiny vineyard where he grows three grape varieties that almost went extinct in Champagne - Meslier, Arbanne, and Pinot Blanc. He shows us the vineyard and explains a little bit of the history & challenges of these rarities.

The wine that comes from this vineyard is my personal favorite special occasion Champagne, the Ariston Aspasie "Cepages d'Antan" Brut Champagne ($99). I often feel guilty that my own consumption has impacted the global supply- they only made 3000 bottles!  

Ariston Aspasie "Cepages d'Antan" Brut Champagne ($99) Composed of 40% Meslier, 40% Arbanne and 20% Pinot Blanc, on the palate the Champagne makes for a double take: it is very rich and textural, but finishes with a laser beam of chalky acidity that just goes on and on. It is fantastic first course Champagne, and pairs well with a wide variety of foods, we tried it with both foie and oysters to equal delight! 

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Check out more educational wine and spirits videos by Gary and other experts from K&L on YouTube!

Champagne Friday: Visiting Marguet Pere & Fils, Ambonnay

By: Gary Westby | K&L Champagne Buyer

Champagne Marguet Pere & Fils, Ambonnay

A visit with the intelligent, diligent and thoughtful grower and winemaker Benoit Marguet is always illuminating. In this video he discusses his custom-made egg shaped foudres. Benoit, like all of the great vignerons is obsessed with every detail of his vines and wines.

His estate vineyards, centered in Ambonnay are all organically farmed and plowed by horse. He uses a very high percentage of wood fermentation for the wines, both in the large foudres in the video above and in small barriques, which he buys used so as not to get to much wood flavor. His wines are uniformly dry, precise and fine, with exceptional transparency and a strong sense of place.

Currently we have on hand:

Marguet Pere et Fils "Cuvée Reserve" Brut Champagne ($34.99) It is very rare to see an all Grand Cru Champagne at this price, but with our direct buy (from Mr. Benoit Marguet) we are able to offer a spectacular value with this wine. 

Marguet Pere et Fils Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne ($39.99) One of the most fun wines we carry. It's light without being unsubstantial, and has a clean refreshing personality. The mousse is exceptional, with tight fine streamers normally only seen in much more expensive bottlings.

2006 Marguet Pere et Fils Grand Cru Brut Champagne ($49.99) Composed exclusively of Grand Cru Mountain of Reims fruit, this is rich and toasty brut displays magic equilibrium. It is surprising how dry the wine finishes for the amount of decadent flavor on the mid palate.

2007 Marguet Pere et Fils Brut Rosé Champagne ($49.99) Unlike most rosé Champagnes, this is neither a saignée method whereby dark grapes are kept on the skins for a short time, after which the juice is bled off, nor made by the addition of still red wine, but rather by a combination of the two! The 2007 is one of the best rosés we have regardless of price. It is, unfortunately, extremely limited!

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 Check out more of my Champagne videos on YouTube!

Champagne Friday: Tasting with Gary

K&L Champagne Buyer Gary Westby offers a peek inside a typical Champagne staff tasting. Of course, Champagne tastings at K&L are hardly typical! This lineup includes two particularly unusual rosé Champagnes -- the 2007 Marguet Pere et Fils Brut Rose ($49.99) and the Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Brut Rosé Champagne ($49.99) -- made with a small amount still red wine added to the blend. A must-try for any serious connoissuer, these exceptional beauties are extremely limited in quantity...

2007 Marguet Pere et Fils Brut Rose ($49.99) Unlike most rosé Champagnes this is neither a saignée method whereby dark grapes are kept on the skins for a short time, after which the juice is bled off, not by the addition of still red wine, but by a combination of the two!

Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Brut Rosé Champagne ($49.99)Composed of 70% Chardonnay, 23% Pinot Noir vinified white, and 7% Pinot Noir vinified red, this Grand Cru Rose Champagne is pretty special stuff...a food Champagne with endless possibilities.