A. Margaine "Le Brut" Premier Cru Brut Champagne NV
(Champagne, France) - [VM 93] [TWI 93] [WS 91]

About the winery:

Arnaud Margaine took over this six and a half hectare estate from his father Bernard in 1989 and is the fourth generation of his family to work these vineyards in the Montagne de Reims. The estate was founded in the 1920s and was expanded by Bernard in the 1950s. In 1977 Bernard joined the Special Club and Arnaud has continued his father’s commitment to high quality champagnes and continues to improve his raw materials in the vineyard.

The majority of Margaine’s holdings are in the village of Villers-Marmery, a 95% village for Chardonnay, and the parcels here are old averaging about 32 years. Margaine also has a small parcel of Pinot Noir in the village of Verzy.

The methods at this estate are not formulaic and Arnaud continues to experiment with new ideas in both the vineyard and the cellar. He prefers to make decisions in the cellar based on what he feels the wines need, rather than what was done in the previous year. Arnaud is preventing malolactic fermentation in a higher proportion of the wines, saying that he finds that non-malo wines have more freshness of fruit. “It’s not just the acidity” he says, “but the fruit as well. With the malo you lose a little of that fresh fruitiness.”

Region: Montagne de Reims
Premier cru sites in Villers-Marmery
Total vineyard holdings: 6.5 hectares
Annual production: 5,800 cases
Vines: 90% chardonnay, 10% pinot noir

Notes from the winemaker:
REGION: Montagne de Reims

WINERY VILLAGE: Verzy

GRAPE VARIETY: 88% Chardonnay, 12% Pinot Noir

VINEYARD/VILLAGE: Villers-Marmery

ASSEMBLAGE: 40% 2017, 26% 2016, 8% 2014, 26% 2012 & 2011

MALO: 20%

ELEVAGE: stainless steel with 16% in neutral French oak

EN TIRAGE: 24+ month

Tasting Notes:
An elegant Champagne that shows lovely integration, framing flavors of Gala apple, white cherry, chalk and grated ginger with bright, lemony acidity and a finely detailed mousse. Minerally finish.

Ratings & Reviews

93 Points - Vinous Media:
"The NV Brut Le Brut is another absolutely compelling wine in this range. Le Brut is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, based on 2017 with 60% reserve wines from 2016-2011. What stands out most, though, is the wine’s total translucence and finesse. Citrus, floral and spice nuances seem to hover on the palate. The 8 grams of dosage is not at all evident. This is such a pretty and harmonious wine. Disgorged: October, 2019.” - AG (Nov 2020)

93 Points - The Wine Independent:
"A blend of 93% Chardonnay and 7% Pinot Noir, the Le Brut Premier Cru NV has an attractive nose showing lovely citrus, lemon wafer and white flowers. The light to medium-bodied palate has a fine, lively and textured mousse that carries delicate citrus freshness through to a long, chalk-laced finish. The blend is 50% from the 2020 vintage of which 67% completed malo-lactic and a small 6% was fermented in oak barrels. The other 50% is made up of reserve wines from the previous five years (2014-2019). The bottle tasted was disgorged November 2022. This champagne is delightful, balanced and is on the dryer side of Brut with a seven gram per liter dosage. 38050 bottles produced. Lot: L201122 D19" - SM (Nov 2023)

91 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A firm and fresh Champagne, with flavors of fresh-cut green apple, white raspberry, almond biscotti and mandarin orange peel riding the tightly coiled, fine mousse. Well-balanced, with a chalky finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged November 2021. Drink now. 275 cases imported." - AN (Nov 2022)