Size: 750ml
Grape: Pinot Noir
Producer: Dominique Moreau (whose grandmother, Marie Courtin, is the namesake of her company)
Region: Champagne, France (specifically in southern Champagne in the Aube and Côtes des Bars)
In the cellar: While many Champagne makers focus on blending grapes, Dominique Moreau specializes in single-varietal sparkling wines. Her Efflorescence is crafted from hand-harvested, 40-year-old Pinot Noir vines, wild fermented in stainless steel, and aged for 24 months. After fermentation, the wine is transferred to used barriques, with no dosage added during the bottling process.
Farming method: Biodynamic; Grapes come from 40-year-old vines planted in clay and limestone soil; grapes are harvested from the bottom of a hill where this is more clay than other parts of her vineyards
Tasting notes: This wine is refreshingly dry, with layers of toast complementing fruity notes of wild cherry, leading to a mineral-driven finish. Dominique named it “Efflorescence” to signify something that evolves continuously, like a slow unfolding. She believes that the wine’s subtle evolution, aided by the small oxygen exchange in the barrel, will allow it to reveal its full character over time, making it particularly ageworthy.