NV Bernard Gaucher Brut Reserve

90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay from the 2010 and 2011 harvests. The resulting wine is kept 2 years on its lees, then matured in oak casks with weekly batonnage (lees stirring) and partial malolactic conversion.  The nose shows a cream, rustic cracker, green apple, light citrus, and mirabelle plum. The palate is focused and light with candied apples, cream, and yellow plum. Pair with poultry or cheese gougères. Bernard Gaucher is a grower in the village of Arconville in the Côte des Bar, the southern-most part of the Champagne region of France. This location, far to the south of Epernay and Rheims, lends to the generosity of fruit that is not often found in wines from the Northern Districts. His son Guillame, makes the Michel Jacquot wines.