Forest-Marié NV Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

The Wine

A precise, mineral-driven Champagne. 100% Chardonnay, the wine features green apple, chalk, and almond notes with a dry, chalky-mineral finish with some interesting tonic notes. The grower-producer, a ninth-generation vigneron family, strives for terroir-expressive wines from sustainably farmed plots in Écueil, Sacy, and Trigny. As is standard for grower-producers, they value terroir expression and vintage variation over a uniform house style.

The mousse is fine and persistent, and the wine’s Extra Brut dosage (0-6 grams of added sugar - a miniscule amount, if any!) ensures a crisp, linear structure that pairs beautifully with food. Expect a Champagne that’s refreshing yet complex, ideal for pairing with shellfish, triple-cream cheeses, or light poultry dishes,

The Winery

Based in Trigny, the winery has expanded to include 86 vineyard plots across several surrounding villages of the Montaigne de Reims area. Known for producers that focus heavily on Pinot Noir grapes in their blends, this is one of the rare, and deliciously so, champagne-based wines from the region.

And while the winery places terroir and vintage variation above all else, they do have some hard and fast house rules:

• Mulching has been done for 30 years to build soil health and water retention
• Hand-harvesting only, no machines
• Fermentation occurs in a mix of stainless steel vats and old foudres
• Only the first pressing is used
• All wines are aged at least three years on the lees

If you’re planning a Champagne tasting, this wine is a compelling contrast to chalk-dominant styles, being leaner, more savory, and deeply expressive!