William Saintot 'Blanc de Noirs' 1er Cru Extra Brut, Champagne, France NV
Champagne William Saintot is a fifth-generation, family-run estate in Avenay-Val-d'Or, in the Montagne de Reims. William Saintot planted his first parcel by hand in 1955, clearing tree roots himself before establishing what would become a ten-hectare domaine spread across Avenay-Val-d'Or, Mutigny, Bisseuil, and Champignol-lez-Mondeville. Today the estate is run by Morgann Trebutien, who continues the family's hands-on, independent approach — hand-harvesting, estate-grown fruit, and a commitment to farming and vinifying almost entirely in-house rather than outsourcing any part of production.
- WINEMAKER: Morgann Trebutien
- FARMING: Vineyards are ploughed both under the vine rows and between rows (a non-herbicide, soil-health-focused practice); the estate's formal organic certification currently covers only its white-variety plots (1.05 hectares, since 2022) and does not extend to the Pinot Noir used in this cuvée.
- VARIETY: 100% Pinot Noir
- TERROIR: Champagne AOC, Montagne de Reims. Fruit drawn from Premier Cru and other classified parcels across Avenay-Val-d'Or, Mutigny, Bisseuil, and Champignol-lez-Mondeville, on clay-limestone subsoils.
- VINIFICATION: A multi-vessel blend: 67% stainless steel tank, 20% oak barrel, and 13% concrete egg, the latter used to promote a slow, steady lees movement and natural autolysis with minimal intervention. Partial malolactic fermentation; no cold stabilization or filtration.
- AGING: Base vintage 2022 blended with reserve wines dating back to 2015 (solera-style multi-vintage blend). Minimum 30 months on lees in the estate's cellars, disgorged at least 6 months before release. Dosage of 2 g/L places it in the Extra Brut category.
- TASTING NOTES: The house's signature cuvée — a Champagne of real character, marked by red fruit, with a generous, fleshy, vinous texture balanced by real freshness on the finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Versatile enough to carry from aperitif through dessert; pairs well with charcuterie, roasted poultry, or soft-ripened cheeses.
- SCORES: Decanter, 95 Points
William Saintot 'Blanc de Noirs' 1er Cru Extra Brut, Champagne, France NV
Champagne William Saintot is a fifth-generation, family-run estate in Avenay-Val-d'Or, in the Montagne de Reims. William Saintot planted his first parcel by hand in 1955, clearing tree roots himself before establishing what would become a ten-hectare domaine spread across Avenay-Val-d'Or, Mutigny, Bisseuil, and Champignol-lez-Mondeville. Today the estate is run by Morgann Trebutien, who continues the family's hands-on, independent approach — hand-harvesting, estate-grown fruit, and a commitment to farming and vinifying almost entirely in-house rather than outsourcing any part of production.
- WINEMAKER: Morgann Trebutien
- FARMING: Vineyards are ploughed both under the vine rows and between rows (a non-herbicide, soil-health-focused practice); the estate's formal organic certification currently covers only its white-variety plots (1.05 hectares, since 2022) and does not extend to the Pinot Noir used in this cuvée.
- VARIETY: 100% Pinot Noir
- TERROIR: Champagne AOC, Montagne de Reims. Fruit drawn from Premier Cru and other classified parcels across Avenay-Val-d'Or, Mutigny, Bisseuil, and Champignol-lez-Mondeville, on clay-limestone subsoils.
- VINIFICATION: A multi-vessel blend: 67% stainless steel tank, 20% oak barrel, and 13% concrete egg, the latter used to promote a slow, steady lees movement and natural autolysis with minimal intervention. Partial malolactic fermentation; no cold stabilization or filtration.
- AGING: Base vintage 2022 blended with reserve wines dating back to 2015 (solera-style multi-vintage blend). Minimum 30 months on lees in the estate's cellars, disgorged at least 6 months before release. Dosage of 2 g/L places it in the Extra Brut category.
- TASTING NOTES: The house's signature cuvée — a Champagne of real character, marked by red fruit, with a generous, fleshy, vinous texture balanced by real freshness on the finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Versatile enough to carry from aperitif through dessert; pairs well with charcuterie, roasted poultry, or soft-ripened cheeses.
- SCORES: Decanter, 95 Points