Diebolt-Vallois N.V. "Tradition" Brut

The Wine

This wine is a blend of 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir, which is unusual for this producer as it lacks any Pinot Meunier. This cuvée is also a blend of two different vintages - 2018 and 2021. Dosed at 4 g/L, the wine shows impeccable balance, unexpected wine-like body and flavors that are entirely delicious. Plus, the value is exceptional.

Pairings: Shellfish (oysters, shrimp, scallops or crab), Sushi / sashimi, white fish, lightly dressed salads, and poultry dishes with herbs or lemon. For a nice contrast, try fried chicken, tempura and gougères (recipe here).

Cheese-wise, reach for our fresh goat cheeses, or rich fatty cheeses like Brillat‑Savarin, Brie and other soft, creamy cheeses. A young Comté or lightly aged Gruyère also work.

The Winery

We are pleased to have the wines of this celebrated Côte des Blancs producer on our shelves. Isabelle Diebolt is married to Jean-Paul Hébrart - another equally prestigious producer in the world of grower-producer Champagnes.

Presiding over an 27-acre estate which was brought to prominence by her father, Jean, in the 1970’s, the family's roots in Cuis date back to the 1500’s). Isabelle is described as an indefatigable perfectionist whose wines have won broad acclaim among wine writers from around the globe. The majority of their chardonnay vines lie in Cramant (one of 17 Grand Cru village) and Cuis (one of 42 1er Cru village), with additional holdings in Chouilly and Le Mesnil (both Grands Crus) as well as the Côtes d’Épernay. Their small plantings of black grapes 
are from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte de Bar.

With the exception of the Fleur de Passion, (their tête de cuvee), the wines systematically go through malolactic fermentation. The result is a range that stylishly showcases how chardonnay can offer tautness, fruit and minerality. Drawn from a relatively small geographical expanse, the wines expertly reflect both the bracing particularity of their origin in the north of the Côte des Blancs and the rounder qualities derived from the vineyards towards Épernay – the best of both worlds!