Veuve Fourny et Fils 'Grands Terroirs' Brut 1er Cru, Champagne, France NV (1.5L Magnum)
Champagne Veuve Fourny et Fils has farmed in Vertus, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, since 1856. Brothers Charles-Henry and Emmanuel Fourny have run the estate since 1993, working roughly nine hectares with a hands-on, low-intervention approach: each parcel vinified separately, minimal dosage across the range, and a significant portion of reserve wine aged in small oak barrels to build complexity. Grands Terroirs — previously labeled Grande Réserve — is the house's showcase for blending across its best sites, pairing the precision of Vertus Chardonnay with a touch of Grand Cru Pinot Noir.
- WINEMAKER: Charles-Henry and Emmanuel Fourny
- FARMING: Lutte Raisonnée (sustainable viticulture)
- VARIETY: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir
- TERROIR: Champagne AOC. Roughly 80% Premier Cru fruit, primarily from Vertus, blended with about 20% Grand Cru fruit from villages including Le Mesnil, Avize, Oger, and Cramant. Vines average 30 years old, grown on brown topsoil over chalk.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested grapes undergo partial barrel fermentation and partial malolactic fermentation. The blend includes a notably high proportion of reserve wines — around 50% — aged in small oak casks, lending a creamy texture that balances the terroir's mineral tension.
- AGING: Aged in bottle for 2½ years before release. Dosage of 6 g/L (Brut).
- TASTING NOTES: A sleek, elegant Champagne with real roundness alongside the freshness and finesse typical of the Fourny house style. Expect ripe stone fruit and pear layered with subtle red berry notes from the Pinot Noir, a gentle toasty or biscuity depth from the reserve wines, and a long, saline, mouthwatering finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Oysters, shellfish, or grilled fish.
- SCORES: 92 points, Decanter (Tom Hewson)
- Alc. 12%
Veuve Fourny et Fils 'Grands Terroirs' Brut 1er Cru, Champagne, France NV (1.5L Magnum)
Champagne Veuve Fourny et Fils has farmed in Vertus, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, since 1856. Brothers Charles-Henry and Emmanuel Fourny have run the estate since 1993, working roughly nine hectares with a hands-on, low-intervention approach: each parcel vinified separately, minimal dosage across the range, and a significant portion of reserve wine aged in small oak barrels to build complexity. Grands Terroirs — previously labeled Grande Réserve — is the house's showcase for blending across its best sites, pairing the precision of Vertus Chardonnay with a touch of Grand Cru Pinot Noir.
- WINEMAKER: Charles-Henry and Emmanuel Fourny
- FARMING: Lutte Raisonnée (sustainable viticulture)
- VARIETY: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir
- TERROIR: Champagne AOC. Roughly 80% Premier Cru fruit, primarily from Vertus, blended with about 20% Grand Cru fruit from villages including Le Mesnil, Avize, Oger, and Cramant. Vines average 30 years old, grown on brown topsoil over chalk.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested grapes undergo partial barrel fermentation and partial malolactic fermentation. The blend includes a notably high proportion of reserve wines — around 50% — aged in small oak casks, lending a creamy texture that balances the terroir's mineral tension.
- AGING: Aged in bottle for 2½ years before release. Dosage of 6 g/L (Brut).
- TASTING NOTES: A sleek, elegant Champagne with real roundness alongside the freshness and finesse typical of the Fourny house style. Expect ripe stone fruit and pear layered with subtle red berry notes from the Pinot Noir, a gentle toasty or biscuity depth from the reserve wines, and a long, saline, mouthwatering finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Oysters, shellfish, or grilled fish.
- SCORES: 92 points, Decanter (Tom Hewson)
- Alc. 12%