Chartogne-Taillet is one of the essential estates of the grower Champagne movement They produce some of the region's most ridiculously delicious, highly-coveted wines. We typically receive such tiny quantities that it’s virtually impossible to offer anything Chartogne in the newsletter.

But today we're over the moon to share the fresh release of their flagship cuvée, “Sainte Anne,” which delivers the unique, beautifully chiseled Chartogne magic at an approachable price. This is an unmissable opportunity to stock up on one of the very best values in Champagne today.
 
Chartogne-Taillet is based in the village of Merfy. Just a short drive from Reims and Grand Crus like Verzy and Verzenay, Merfy is in an obscure sub-zone known as the Massif de Saint-Thierry. First planted in the 7th century, soils here are rich in clay, sand, and pure chalk, and are planted to all three major Champagne grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

Since 2006, the estate has been run by the brilliant Alexandre Chartogne. Maniacally obsessed with translating his terroirs into the glass, Alexandre trained under none other than the iconic Anselme Selosse. You can feel Selosse's influence in the alluring tension between richness and cut that define these wines.

The estate has been practicing organic viticulture since 2002; since Alexandre’s arrival, it has moved even deeper into natural farming. Chickens and sheep roam freely in the vines to control pests and weeds. Half of the rows are left to grow cover crops, and half are plowed by horse to avoid the soil becoming compacted. Harvest is done by hand and the wines are vinified and aged in neutral oak barrels of varying sizes and shapes.

"Sainte Anne" is a study in freshness, depth and cool mountain minerality. It’s a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier. The base wine is from the ripe, energetic 2022 blended with older reserve wine for a gentle touch of oxidation and heady complexity. It’s bottled with just 2.5 grams of dosage.
 
We've always loved this cuvée, and this is one of the best releases we’ve tasted yet. Alexandre is at the top of his game and the wine is just singing.

Chartogne-Taillet, Champagne Extra Brut "Sainte Anne", NV [2022] $74.99