Fallet-Dart "Cuvée de Réserve" Brut Champagne

Fallet-Dart Cuvée de Réserve, a Blanc de Noir produced exclusively from estate fruit, has a round fruity style compliments of the Pinot Meunier, but maintains a bright, crisp, backbone of acidity. The lengthy sur-lie aging gives it fine bubbles and an elegant toasty autolytic character. On the nose, citrus, red berries, and brioche. On the palate, cherry, strawberry, pear, and apple with a long tingling finish. An easy drinking every day champagne. That's right. I said it. EVERY day!

The Fallet-Dart Cuvée de Réserve is a wonderfully inviting and delicious Champagne! The Pinot Meunier based Blanc de Noir entices the senses with ripe red cherry, crunchy red apple and toasty Brioche, and a sneakily long and persistent finish. A perfect apéritif one should always have on hand.

Creamy and brioche like, it's an easy Champagne to enjoy as an aperitif yet complex and richly textured with hint of toast, hazelnut and lemon curd. It has long persistent finish and very balanced profile overall.

This Blanc de Noirs is one of the best-kept secrets of the Western Marne Valley. Made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and aged for a particularly lengthy four years on the lees, it has wonderful fresh pear, Bing cherry and apple fruit profile, a broad presence on the palate, and a crisp finish that left a nice yeasty flavor lingering for over a minute! If you’re on the grower-producer train, this is an essential.

The Fallet-Dart house has a mind blowing history with 17 generations behind the line to perfect their Champagne and perfect it they have. With majority Pinot Meunier and four years of aging sur lees this bottle shows a richer, toastier style while still showcasing brightness and freshness hard to achieve with this blend. I love that Fallet-Dart is not afraid to experiment with a Pinot Meunier heavy blend, though it is not by chance it turned out phenomenally with the clear dedication and hard work in the craft they put in year after year.

The Fallet-Dart Champagnes all represent fantastic values, and there are a number to choose from depending on your preference and budget. Each on shows a lovely toasty note from their preference for long lees contact. The Grand reserve is rich but has a lovely crunchy crispness of fresh citrus over red apple fruit. It finishes up with a very refreshing clean snap

Champagne Fallet-Dart's Reserve is one of our top values in Champagne. It is a rich, toasty style which earned its brioche aromas and flavors the old fashioned way, with time on the lees. It is aged for four years and has the additional benefit of 1/3 reserve wines to make this a smooth customer with a perfect bead. This round, full bodied Champagne is generous in every way, and does not have an austere bone in its body. The finish is dry, long and makes me want to come back for more!

Fallet-Dart is always a fantastic value and this under $30 bottling is no exception. Aged on the lees for four years, this is rich, powerful and toasty without feeling flabby on the palate. There is a bracing line of acidity that cuts through that leesy richness. The palate has bright, citrusy notes to balance all the richness of the nose. A great value, so go ahead, drink Champagne when you're thirsty.

Most often Pinot Meunier is the backup dancer to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Champagne, but Fallet-Dart has taken the chance to bring it center stage in their Grand Reserve! I fell for PM-heavy Champagnes last year when I had one from Michel Loriot, and they continue to stun me with their suppleness, bold aromatics and concentration while still being fresh, long lived, and elegant. The Grand Reserve checks off all those desired characters and is extremely food-friendly. My fiance and I enjoyed this with a rotisserie chicken, fresh bread and cheese—absolutely delicious! It is weighted enough to stand up to the rich meal while the unanticipated acidity refreshes the palate. With that said, I think the wine is extremely versatile and could be paired with lighter dishes such as sautéed white fish with a white bean and tomato salad or even a grilled chicken salad. Either way, I will be drinking it again soon!