The Brut Selection, Grand Cru Champagne from Juillet-Lallement is made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Verzy, on Champagne’s Montagne de Reims, is known for wines with more mineral earthiness and finesse relative to its neighbors. Duly noted, but this wine takes on more of the classic character of the region: generosity of fruit, fleshy, creamy and a little toasty. Peach, apricot, mango and ripe lemon flavors all over the place with a kiss of sweetness (8 G/L dosage) and a smidge of toasty butter pastry on the finish. Can’t go wrong here…for quality and value I’ll ALWAYS choose a small grower Champagne producer over one from the big houses.
