This Loire bubbles has been enjoying plenty of love among those who know the wine, and no wonder. It's a hand-harvested, Estate-grown, biodynamic, naturally fermented, low-dosage fizz that shows up many conventional Champagnes for both quality and value. Topping off an impressive package is the marvellous label designed by legendary French illustrator, Michel Tolmer (of Mimi, Fifi and Glouglou fame). Jo Landron is not a fan of using Muscadet's Melon de Bourgogne for sparkling wine, preferring instead a blend of around 75% Folle Blanche (grown on sandy clay), with a balance of Pinot Noir (grown on gravelly soils). Vine age varies between 18 and 30 years. The yields are typically between 50 and 60 hl/ha--far lower than the average yields in Champagne. The base wines are fermented naturally and then go through a traditional second fermentation in bottle, where they remain for a minimum of 24 months. The dosage is a low five grams per litre. On top of all this, the fruit for this cuvée is from a single vintage (2018 in this case). This list of attributes sounds like the winegrowing and making approach of a top grower in Champagne, not a humble Muscadet producer! It's no surprise then that the result is a wine of impressive depth and complexity. Expect a super-mineral, earthy, rocky wine with waves of racy citrus and fresh nectarine fruit and lots of flinty, talc-like, salty complexity, then a delicious lick of smoky Pinot breadiness to close. This is simply one of the finest sparkling bargains going around.

The arrival of the late great Daniel Thibault transformed Piper-Heidsieck beyond recognition. The style is now fuller and rounder with elegance and charm. The cepage is an equal blend of all 3 varieties and shows good balance and length. The wine is a fresh aperitif style which is much finer than is often given credit for. Marilyn Monroe famously declared that she went to bed every night with Chanel No5 behind her ears and woke up every morning with a glass of Piper-Heidsieck.

Fresh on the nose, with flavors of apples and lemon, as well as hints of peaches. Tasty and smooth, this wine has a real texture, due to its fine bubbles and mineral acidity, as typical for the wines from the Côte des Blancs. On the palate, it evolves towards brioche-like, buttery and toasty flavors, with a touch of thyme and grapefruit on the final.

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Incredible value vintage Champagne. Lovely aromas of lime, Apple and brioche. Gentle creamy bead with fine acidity. A long and lingering finish. Since the 17th century, the Baron family owned a vineyard in Charly-sur-Marne, in the west of the Champagne area. In 1961, Gabriel Baron was gifted 1ha of vineyards by his father, on the occasion of his marriage to Dolores Fuente. As a symbol of this union, Gabriel and Dolores founded Baron-Fuente. The first bottles were produced and sold directly from their house. By 1992, they had grown their vineyard holdings to 13 ha, and added a daughter and a son to their family - Sophie and Ignace. Today, Baron-Fuente owns 38 ha of vineyards, and the house is managed by Ignace and Sophie. All of their bottles are stored on slats for a period of between 3 and 7 years before they are disgorged, bringing the deep and varied aromas to each of the cuvees. They disgorge each bottle every three months, which ensures fine mousse and light bubbles. For over 50 years these different phases of production have allowed people in France and in 30 countries around the world, to enjoy Baron-Fuente Champagnes!