Champagne Nathalie Falmet Extra Brut Parcelle ZH303 2014, Côtes des Bar, France

Grower/Enologist Nathalie Falmet makes tiny quantities of finest sparkling wines from her property at Rouvres-les-Vignes, in the Aube region of Champagne. After studying chemistry at Paris XI and earning diplomas in both viticulture and oenology, Nathalie inherited and began farming 50% of the vines planted by her parents, vines where she walked and worked alongside her father as early as 8 years old. Her 3.2 hectares of vines are comprised of 2.4 hectares of Chardonnay, 0.6 hectares of Pinot Meunier and 0.5 hectares of Pinot Noir. The vineyards stretch from her village of Rouvres-les-Vignes to the neighboring village of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, the birthplace of famed French General Charles de Gaulle and the end of the line for vineyard plantings in the Aube. Nathalie manages every aspect of the craft from vine cultivation to sales and marketing. This wine comes from the micro plot of land with the geographic reference number of ZH 303 planted about 50 years ago. The grape is Chardonnay. This rare vintage is made with 100% Chardonnay from a single year and a single plot.

$162.99