Champagne Pouillon Brut Grande Vallee 750ml

The NV Extra Brut Grande Vallée is a blend of 65% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meuneir and 15% Chardonnay harvested in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Mutigny, Epernay, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Festigny, 45% of the blend is from the 2019 vintage, 30% from 2018, both aged in oak, and 25% reserve wines kept in foudre. Golden color leads onto an earthy, expansive nose that has an overtone of ripe red bell pepper and juicy plum, with an oxidative edge from wood ageing. The palate is lighter than either color or nose suggest, flowing with inherent juiciness on a body that has traction and Pinot structure, but also bright freshness. Individual and surprisingly light. Dosage is 2gr/L. 

Score: 91 points -- Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 2023

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R(oger) Pouillon is a highly interesting 15 hectares family domaine based in Mareuil-sur-Ay. Operated by Fabrice and Elodie Pouillon in the third generation, the domaine cultivates 68 parcels in total in several villages of the (Petite) Montagne de Reims (Ecueil) and the Marne Valley (Ay, Epernay, Les Mesnil-sur-Oger et al.). They switched to biodynamic farming in 2003 and ferment each parcel on its own partly in oak (tonneaux and pièces), partly in stainless steel. The wines are medium to full-bodied and serious Champagnes that are always clear, well structured and mostly really dry. Some of them would benefit from further bottle age, whereas the wines that were dosed with seven grams are rather fruit-intense and round crowd-pleasers.