A. Margaine "Special Club" Brut Champagne 2014
(Champagne, France) - [VM 94] [JD 94] [WS 92]

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:

cépage 100% Chardonnay
village/vyd Villers-Marmery 1er Cru; Levois, Grand Arbe,
Montmedy & Ruelles — Chalk and clay soils
malo Yes
élevage 80% Stainless steel, 20% oak barrels
sur latte 60 Months
dégorgement January 2021 (8C)

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2014 Brut Spécial Club is a powerful, dense wine. It offers plenty of the signature Margaine energy, but with a touch more mid-palate presence than most of the wines in this range, the result of 66 months on the lees. It's a style that is quite appealing. Drier pear, lemon confit, spice, mint and crushed rocks are some of the many notes that build in the glass. This is a terrific showing. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged: March, 2022. (Drink between 2022-2030)" - AG (May 2022)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A vivid Champagne that crackles with acidity, while the soft, fine mousse coats the palate and carries flavors of golden apple, salted almond, dried white cherry and candied ginger. A streak of salinity and hints of spring blossoms and spices play on the finish. Disgorged March 2022. Drink now through 2028." - AN (Mar 2023)