The world of Champagne can be dizzying. Even amongst the largest producers, there is a bevy of options to choose from and its often not clear what differentiates one Champagne from the next.

This week, we’re showcasing a smaller producer that we’ve really come to love, and a Champagne from their porfolio that is well worth the price of entry.

Fresne Ducret ‘Le Chemin du Chemin’ Premier Cru NV Champagne

Where does this Champagne come from?

Not many people are aware of the fact that Champagne is a very large region in France that consists of multiple smaller subregions, villages and vineyards.

This week’s wine comes from the Montagne de Reims sub-region of the broader Champagne region. More specifically, Fresne Ducret is located in the village of Ville-Dommange, which is situated in the north-western part of the Montagne de Reims. This area, which is sometimes referred to as “Petite Montagne de Reims”, contains a string of Premier Cru villages, of which Ville-Dommange is one.

Why is this Champagne unique?

For the uninitiated, there are Grand cru, Premier Cru and “autre” villages in the Champagne region. A Grand Cru village is thought to bear better fruit (grapes) than a Premier Cru and both of the aforementioned are thought to be superior to the unclassified or “autres” villages. As such, the fact that this week’s Champagne bears the ‘Premier Cru’ moniker is a good thing.

Made from a blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and entirely from the first press of grapes (another sign of great quality when it comes to Champagne), this enticing sparkling is made entirely from grapes sourced from Premier Cru villages in the Montagne de Reims subregion of Champagne.

Fresne Ducret is also an independent, family owned Champagne producer. It can be a rarity in some parts to find Champagnes that are not made by either a super large cooperative or one of the top Champagne brands. This gives this Champagne a further special touch.

Who makes this Champagne?

Fresne-Ducret is a small family owned estate that is rich in history and has been rooted in the premier cru village of Ville-dommange in the Champagne region since the mid 1800s. It is currently being run by a husband-wife team, one part being a Canadian ex-patriate who followed her partner to Champagne.

The estate offers a range of Champagnes; "Le Chemin du Chemin" is a look into the core philosophy and essence of this producer and winery.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Grape Varieties - a blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay

Amount of Reserve Wine - 25%

Soils - clay and limestone

Vinification - all first press juice; vinified and aged in stainless steel for 5 months prior to bottling; minimum 4 years aging on lees

ABV - 12%

Residual Sugar/Dosage - 5 g/L

Wineitupanotch tasting notes:

Ample orchard fruit notes - green and red apple, lemons and a hint of underripe peach, followed by floral notes and a charred toast profile meets the nose, followed in the palate by more of the same. This Champagne is particularly smoky and creamy (due to the extended lees aging), offering up lots of buttered toast, brioche, toasted nut and ginger notes, laced with a slight hint of button mushroom vibes. There is a lot of precision in this Champagne, alongside elegance and heft. It is a beautiful option at an affordable price point.

Aging potential:

Drink now.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Enjoy this wine with oysters, white fish in a cream sauce, or charred sushi. Or just enjoy it on its own for a memorable celebratory moment that you want to enjoy with something a little bit extra special!

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 90 points

A very well made Champagne by a smaller producer, one that is sure to catch your attention and cause you to pause and reflect.

FINAL VERDICT:

This is a very affordable Champagne for what it offers in the glass, especially relative to some of its other non-vintage counterparts that come with a bigger brand name. Try this for a differentiated experience, and to see what diversity lives in the Champagne region if only you seek it out :)

If you’ve tried this Champagne already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine!……

Cheers…..XOXO