Flatiron Wines & Spirits NY

When we first launched Extra Brut, the idea was simple: give our Champagne lovers a deeper look at the grower revolution, boutique brands, and the incredible range of wines they continue to produce. Over the months, we've explored stylistic contrasts, grape variety spotlights, and even the impact of climate and elevation. 

This month, we’re making it simpler. We’re going to take a region – one of the best regions! – and start drilling down. 

The Côte des Blancs is the cradle of Chardonnay in Champagne, and its chalky slopes have given birth to some of the most ethereal and long-lived wines in the region – or anywhere in the world for that matter! Names like Le Mesnil, Avize, and Cramant resonate with  collectors and sommeliers, but the true magic lies in their fine-grained distinctions — the subtle differences in exposure, chalk depth, and elevation that make each village unique.

This month, we focus on Champagne Hélène, a new project from up-and-coming grower Pierre Hugot. Pierre’s family has been growing grapes in the Côtes des Blancs since 1891 and the winery is named after his great grandmother. Before taking over the family vineyards and also beginning a burgeoning micro-négociant project, Pierre worked at a few iconic estates in Burgundy and Champagne, including Liger-Belair, Roulout and Suenen. Today we’re excited to share two extraordinary wines that Pierre selected for his micro-négoce from likeminded friends and through rigorous blind tastings. The wines were chosen for their clarity of terroir expression and pure deliciousness. Pierre finished the bottle-aging and performed the riddling, disgorgement and dosage himself.

To start this village-level journey: a tank-aged Grand Cru blend of old-vine Chardonnay that offers a sweeping view of the chalk-infused character of Grand Cru Côte des Blancs, and an oak-aged single-village bottling from Vertus that drills down into one great village's identity with stunning clarity.