Black Stone

Composition: A 100% Champagne from Fontaine-Denis, a lesser-known terroir on the Côte de Sézanne. 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir. 60% from the 2021 harvest, 40% perpetual reserve in oak barrels (2012-2020). 30% vinified in oak barrels. Sugar content: 2 g/L. Disgorgement: Jan. 2024.

Aromas: Fine and expressive nose with notes of apple and pear, as well as a discreet hint of almond. On the palate, it is fleshy, crisp with an exotic touch. With a velvety texture in the mouth, it reveals notes of citrus fruits. A gourmet and fragrant Champagne.

Recommendation: Perfect as an aperitif, very good with sole meunière, moules marinières, poule au pot, Tomme de Savoie, cacio e pepe, fish and chips, gravlax salmon, pork ravioli, steamed shrimp, yakitori,...

And this is what Natalie Lumpp, TOP Sommelière, writes about the "Empreinte de Terroir - Brut":

"I am often asked about small, good Champagne houses. Well, Moet & Chandon boasts that every 2 seconds a bottle of their Champagne is opened somewhere in the world. And the other well-known brands can be drunk in almost every corner of the world. A small Champagne house that truly offers outstanding qualities is more like finding a 'needle in a haystack'. A big thank you here to Alexandra Hepke, who always manages to find such great insider tips!

The best example of this is the 5-hectare Champagne house René Collet in Fontaine-Denis, which is now run by his three sons.

Try the "Empreinte de Terroir" – a cuvée of 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir. It sparkles in a strong pale gold and shows a very fine perlage. While it is initially dominated by spicy aromas and also by a scent of fresh walnuts, it increasingly shifts towards citrus fruits – a great interplay already in the fragrance! On the palate, it delivers everything it promised in terms of spiciness and citrus fruit. The great fascination, however, is its balance – it is not characterized by acidity, but is wonderfully smooth.

With its great digestibility, it can of course be enjoyed neat, but also as an accompaniment to fine fish dishes, such as cod fried in herbs..."