Champagne Lafalise Froissart Cuvee 276 Brut Nature

Based in the Grand Cru village of Verzenay, Lafalise Froissart is one of the hottest, young producers in all of Champagne. The Lafalise family has deep roots in growing grapes in Verzenay since 1885, but only now with the sixth generation have they finally released their own estate-bottled Champagne. Paul Froissart took over his family plots in 2014, soon leaving his post at another nearby estate, then in 2019 he finally released his first Grand Cru Extra Brut.  

Paul and his mother Danielle farm organically, the plowing done by horses, and his five hectares in chalky Verzenay and Verzy are divided between 40 individual small plots. Fermentation is done in old barrels from Meursault, Puligny, and Chassagne, parcel by parcel, and with malolactic naturally allowed. Although he uses a “solera” system to make Champagne with older reserve wines, the vinous style of his Extra Brut and non-dosage blends is less towards the new-school oxidative fashion, and more towards the powerful barrel-aged style of the best Côte d’Or whites, with bubbles.

Their Cuvee 276 is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, and it shows a slight oxidative quality, partially due to the fact that some of the Pinot Noir comes from an old Solera system, but also because the wine is aged in bottle for an extended period. Bottled with zero dosage (no sugar), this is a grand and regal Champagne that bubble lovers must try.