Champagne Bernard Gaucher Reserve Brut NV

OVER 50% OFF, extremely hard to find, “grower” Champagne (“farmer fizz” works too)**, and simply a whoppingly cool find typically only found on restaurant wine lists unless you happen to have a hookup in Champagne, which of course we do, yes yes yes!!

Not $100, not $60, nope, TWENTY-NINE, and a massive crowd-pleaser that also hits all the geeky sweet spots. Super mouth-filling and fruit-driven with a wonderful balance of acidity and just the right amount of frothy bubbles for the style, which is toasty yet zestily, salivary-gland-tickling fresh — why? Down in the Cotes des Bar (Aube, specifically), the soils are more Chablis, with clay and limestone (Kimmeridgian), and the wines are noticeably riper in style. Chaptalization (the addition of sugar before fermentation) is much less common here because you get grapes that are fully ripe. We have championed a few different growers from down here in the south (as you all well know!!), and we'll happily add Gaucher to the mix, hopefully for all eternity. 

Mostly pinot noir with about 10% chardonnay, this sings its laser-show song of stone fruits, bright yellow plums, croissant dough, apples, and a creamy, lactic aroma that makes us think of rich condensed milk or fresh cream…so good!! As we said, hits all the sweet spots, not to mention this wicked-nice price…while it lasts…! 

** What’s “grower” bubbly? HERE you go. In short – Champagne made and bottled by the same person (or family) who owns/grew the grapes, as opposed to buying from co-ops (like most of the luxury houses, $200, etc). It's a good thing!