100% Chardonnay

Blancs de Blancs is one of our favourite styles of Champagne and this is an excellent example. Based in Montgueux, an area sandwiched between Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bars, Emanuel Lassaigne organically farms 4ha of vineyards organically, a rarity in the marginal climate of Champagne. His father Jacques first planted vines in the '60s, and when Emanuel took over in 1999, he stopped selling the grapes to big Champagne houses and started making his own wine instead.

The wine is a blend of fruit from eight different vineyards and three different vintages - about 40% from 2017 and the remainder from roughly equal parts 2015 and 2016. These reserve wines give the wine extra depth, richness and complexity. Extended ageing on lees adds rich pastry flavours to complete the wine.

Tasting notes : Pear, lemon, croissant, saline. Fresh, crisp acidity with depth and texture from extended ageing.

Food pairing : Surprisingly versatile. This would work equally well with scallops as it would with a creamy, mushroom risotto.