Damien Hugot "Hommage 1921" Extra Brut Champagne

The Hugot family planted vines in Champagne as early as 1660, but their first bottling wasn't until 1921. Damien Hugot's grandfather made the leap from grower to grower-producer and Damien honors this milestone with his "Hommage" 1921 Extra Brut Champagne. The first part of the blend is 75% Chardonnay from the harvest year sourced from Monthelon, a cold micro-climate in the sud d'Epernay, and barrel fermented in a foudre. The remaining 25% is a combination of Pinot Noir and Meunier, sourced from Chavot (also in sud d'Epernay) from a perpetual blend aged in barriques (small oak barrels). The slow oxygenation from the foudre and barriques gives the champagne more depth and complexity than you get from stainless steel tanks. Creamy, full bodied, with 3-4 years of aging on the lees, and a dosage of 3g/l (very dry on the finish), with notes of fresh sourdough, lemon-lime, peach, ginger, and the signature chalky minerality for which the Cote de Blancs is famous. If you like big, bold, barrel fermented champagne made with the care and tradition that can only come with over four hundred years of experience, Champagne Damien Hugot is the house you've been looking for.