Cossy 'Eclat' 1er Cru Brut, Jouy-lès-Reims, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France NV
Champagne Cossy's story is one of heritage meeting modern vision. The family has tended vines in the Premier Cru village of Jouy-lès-Reims since 1764, though they only began bottling under their own label in the 1950s. When Francis Cossy passed away unexpectedly, his daughter Sophie—then just 25 years old—faced a pivotal decision: continue the family legacy or walk away. She chose to stay, and that choice transformed both her life and the estate's wines. Over the past decade, Sophie has reimagined every cuvée with a clear, feminine touch, lowering dosages from 14 grams to 7-8 grams per liter and extending aging on lees to create drier, more refined Champagnes with greater complexity. Working alongside her mother Geneviève, Sophie farms 7 hectares divided across 34 small parcels in Jouy-lès-Reims and neighboring Pargny-lès-Reims. Her approach balances respect for tradition with a progressive spirit—the bottles now feature an illustration of the Roman god Janus, symbolizing both her father's heritage and her forward-looking philosophy. Today, Sophie is recognized as one of Champagne's bright young talents, producing wines of exceptional elegance and remarkable value.
- WINEMAKER: Sophie Cossy
- FARMING: Sustainable viticulture, transitioning toward organic practices
- VARIETY: 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Meunier, 34% Chardonnay (Note: estate plantings are approximately 50% Pinot Meunier, 35% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay)
- TERROIR: The estate's 7 hectares are spread across 34 individual parcels in the Premier Cru villages of Jouy-lès-Reims and Pargny-lès-Reims, located on the western outskirts of Reims in the Montagne de Reims. This area, sometimes called the Petite Montagne de Reims, features porous soils with excellent drainage and optimal sun exposure that impart both structure and elegance to the wines. The terroir's clay-limestone composition provides mineral backbone while the favorable microclimate allows the three classic Champagne varieties to achieve ideal ripeness and balance. The fragmented nature of the parcels—34 plots across just 7 hectares—offers Sophie tremendous blending possibilities and allows her to showcase the subtle variations within this Premier Cru terroir.
- VINIFICATION: Primary fermentation in stainless steel tanks. This release is based on the 2019 harvest, blended with 25% reserve wines from the 2018 vintage to add depth and complexity. Since taking over the estate, Sophie has fundamentally reimagined her vinification approach, extending the time wines spend on lees before disgorgement to enhance texture and aromatic complexity. The wine undergoes traditional méthode champenoise secondary fermentation in bottle. Disgorged in July 2022 with a modest dosage of 7 grams per liter—half of what the estate used previously—to create a drier, more precise expression that showcases terroir rather than sweetness.
- AGING: Extended élevage on lees in bottle prior to disgorgement, significantly longer than the estate's previous practice
- TASTING NOTES: The name "Éclat" translates to glow, radiance, or lustre—perfectly capturing this Champagne's luminous character. The wine displays a beautiful golden-yellow hue with fine, persistent bubbles forming an elegant cordon. The nose is expressive and inviting, offering aromas of ripe apple, pear, dried fruits, fresh hazelnuts, and subtle brioche notes. White fruit dominates with hints of stone fruit and delicate floral undertones. On the palate, the attack is fresh yet ample, showing the balanced intensity characteristic of Premier Cru fruit. The wine is simultaneously soft and round while maintaining crisp tension—a hallmark of Sophie's refined style. The texture is creamy and enveloping, with the lower dosage allowing the wine's natural elegance and minerality to shine through. Flavors mirror the nose with added notes of toasted almonds and a subtle vinous character. The finish is clean and persistent, marked by finesse rather than power. This is Champagne that embodies grace and refinement—everything you wish Champagne would be, with an ethereal quality that makes it utterly charming and crowd-pleasing.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Cuvée Éclat's elegant, balanced profile makes it remarkably versatile from aperitif through dessert. The wine shines as an aperitif, especially with savory appetizers like gougères, smoked salmon canapés, or aged Comté. Its refined character pairs beautifully with oysters, scallops, or crab salad where the wine's minerality complements the seafood's delicate brininess. Try it with white fish preparations—sole meunière, halibut with beurre blanc, or trout amandine—where the wine's nutty notes echo the dish. The wine's rounded texture and fruit-forward character also work well with poultry dishes like roasted chicken with herbs, turkey breast with cream sauce, or chicken vol-au-vent. For cheese, opt for creamy, mild options like triple-cream Brie, young Camembert, or fresh chèvre. The wine's approachability and festive character make it perfect for celebrations and convivial gatherings—as the French say, any excuse to pop a cork is a good one, and Éclat delivers every time.
Cossy 'Eclat' 1er Cru Brut, Jouy-lès-Reims, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France NV
Champagne Cossy's story is one of heritage meeting modern vision. The family has tended vines in the Premier Cru village of Jouy-lès-Reims since 1764, though they only began bottling under their own label in the 1950s. When Francis Cossy passed away unexpectedly, his daughter Sophie—then just 25 years old—faced a pivotal decision: continue the family legacy or walk away. She chose to stay, and that choice transformed both her life and the estate's wines. Over the past decade, Sophie has reimagined every cuvée with a clear, feminine touch, lowering dosages from 14 grams to 7-8 grams per liter and extending aging on lees to create drier, more refined Champagnes with greater complexity. Working alongside her mother Geneviève, Sophie farms 7 hectares divided across 34 small parcels in Jouy-lès-Reims and neighboring Pargny-lès-Reims. Her approach balances respect for tradition with a progressive spirit—the bottles now feature an illustration of the Roman god Janus, symbolizing both her father's heritage and her forward-looking philosophy. Today, Sophie is recognized as one of Champagne's bright young talents, producing wines of exceptional elegance and remarkable value.
- WINEMAKER: Sophie Cossy
- FARMING: Sustainable viticulture, transitioning toward organic practices
- VARIETY: 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Meunier, 34% Chardonnay (Note: estate plantings are approximately 50% Pinot Meunier, 35% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay)
- TERROIR: The estate's 7 hectares are spread across 34 individual parcels in the Premier Cru villages of Jouy-lès-Reims and Pargny-lès-Reims, located on the western outskirts of Reims in the Montagne de Reims. This area, sometimes called the Petite Montagne de Reims, features porous soils with excellent drainage and optimal sun exposure that impart both structure and elegance to the wines. The terroir's clay-limestone composition provides mineral backbone while the favorable microclimate allows the three classic Champagne varieties to achieve ideal ripeness and balance. The fragmented nature of the parcels—34 plots across just 7 hectares—offers Sophie tremendous blending possibilities and allows her to showcase the subtle variations within this Premier Cru terroir.
- VINIFICATION: Primary fermentation in stainless steel tanks. This release is based on the 2019 harvest, blended with 25% reserve wines from the 2018 vintage to add depth and complexity. Since taking over the estate, Sophie has fundamentally reimagined her vinification approach, extending the time wines spend on lees before disgorgement to enhance texture and aromatic complexity. The wine undergoes traditional méthode champenoise secondary fermentation in bottle. Disgorged in July 2022 with a modest dosage of 7 grams per liter—half of what the estate used previously—to create a drier, more precise expression that showcases terroir rather than sweetness.
- AGING: Extended élevage on lees in bottle prior to disgorgement, significantly longer than the estate's previous practice
- TASTING NOTES: The name "Éclat" translates to glow, radiance, or lustre—perfectly capturing this Champagne's luminous character. The wine displays a beautiful golden-yellow hue with fine, persistent bubbles forming an elegant cordon. The nose is expressive and inviting, offering aromas of ripe apple, pear, dried fruits, fresh hazelnuts, and subtle brioche notes. White fruit dominates with hints of stone fruit and delicate floral undertones. On the palate, the attack is fresh yet ample, showing the balanced intensity characteristic of Premier Cru fruit. The wine is simultaneously soft and round while maintaining crisp tension—a hallmark of Sophie's refined style. The texture is creamy and enveloping, with the lower dosage allowing the wine's natural elegance and minerality to shine through. Flavors mirror the nose with added notes of toasted almonds and a subtle vinous character. The finish is clean and persistent, marked by finesse rather than power. This is Champagne that embodies grace and refinement—everything you wish Champagne would be, with an ethereal quality that makes it utterly charming and crowd-pleasing.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Cuvée Éclat's elegant, balanced profile makes it remarkably versatile from aperitif through dessert. The wine shines as an aperitif, especially with savory appetizers like gougères, smoked salmon canapés, or aged Comté. Its refined character pairs beautifully with oysters, scallops, or crab salad where the wine's minerality complements the seafood's delicate brininess. Try it with white fish preparations—sole meunière, halibut with beurre blanc, or trout amandine—where the wine's nutty notes echo the dish. The wine's rounded texture and fruit-forward character also work well with poultry dishes like roasted chicken with herbs, turkey breast with cream sauce, or chicken vol-au-vent. For cheese, opt for creamy, mild options like triple-cream Brie, young Camembert, or fresh chèvre. The wine's approachability and festive character make it perfect for celebrations and convivial gatherings—as the French say, any excuse to pop a cork is a good one, and Éclat delivers every time.