Guy de Forez ‘Tradition’ Blanc de Noirs Brut, Les Riceys, Champagne, France NV
Guy de Forez is a family-owned house in Les Riceys, in the Aube, working from a 17th-century building. Francis and Sylvie Wenner farm about 12 acres, mostly Pinot Noir with small plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The domaine was among the first in the area to farm sustainably. Tradition is the house’s entry cuvée and the clearest statement of its style: a precise, fresh wine with some weight through the middle.
- Farming: Sustainable, Terra Vitis member
- Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
- Terroir: Estate vineyards around Les Riceys, Côte des Bar (Barséquanais), Aube, Champagne. Kimmeridgian limestone and clay soils.
- Vinification: Blend of 2010 and 2011 vintages. Fermented and primarily aged in stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation, which keeps the acidity intact. Dosage 10 g/L.
- Aging: 30 months on lees in the cellars, including 12 months on cork.
- Tasting Notes: The wine opens with a pale gold color and a fine, steady bead. Aromas lean toward red orchard fruit and fresh pastry, with the lees aging adding a light toasty edge that doesn’t overwhelm the fruit. On the palate the entry is delicate and clean, then the middle fills out with a rounded plushness typical of Pinot-driven Champagne. The acidity stays bright and carries the finish, which is fresh and moderately long, with a faint chalky dryness from the limestone.
- Food Pairings: Raw oysters and crudo, where the acidity cuts through the richness of the fish. Brandade or a crab-and-fennel salad for texture against the bubbles. Roast chicken with lemon and herbs, or pork loin with apple, where the mid-palate weight matches the protein. Aged Comté or a soft bloomy-rind cheese like Brillat-Savarin for a cheese course.
Guy de Forez ‘Tradition’ Blanc de Noirs Brut, Les Riceys, Champagne, France NV
Guy de Forez is a family-owned house in Les Riceys, in the Aube, working from a 17th-century building. Francis and Sylvie Wenner farm about 12 acres, mostly Pinot Noir with small plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The domaine was among the first in the area to farm sustainably. Tradition is the house’s entry cuvée and the clearest statement of its style: a precise, fresh wine with some weight through the middle.
- Farming: Sustainable, Terra Vitis member
- Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
- Terroir: Estate vineyards around Les Riceys, Côte des Bar (Barséquanais), Aube, Champagne. Kimmeridgian limestone and clay soils.
- Vinification: Blend of 2010 and 2011 vintages. Fermented and primarily aged in stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation, which keeps the acidity intact. Dosage 10 g/L.
- Aging: 30 months on lees in the cellars, including 12 months on cork.
- Tasting Notes: The wine opens with a pale gold color and a fine, steady bead. Aromas lean toward red orchard fruit and fresh pastry, with the lees aging adding a light toasty edge that doesn’t overwhelm the fruit. On the palate the entry is delicate and clean, then the middle fills out with a rounded plushness typical of Pinot-driven Champagne. The acidity stays bright and carries the finish, which is fresh and moderately long, with a faint chalky dryness from the limestone.
- Food Pairings: Raw oysters and crudo, where the acidity cuts through the richness of the fish. Brandade or a crab-and-fennel salad for texture against the bubbles. Roast chicken with lemon and herbs, or pork loin with apple, where the mid-palate weight matches the protein. Aged Comté or a soft bloomy-rind cheese like Brillat-Savarin for a cheese course.