Get ready to prepare the end of the year with Bruno Lafon Selection!
We're thrilled to present our selection of sparkling wines : from Champagne, to Crémants and Vouvray. Don’t be shy about our 5 pages newsletter, it’s worth it!
Please get back to us if you wish to have more information on a producer that may not have been presented yet!
Let us help you make your bubbly selections and prepare the end of the year celebrations, by having these wines on time for the holidays. Of course, check availability in your state with us.
VOUVRAY, SAUMUR AND CREMANT DE LOIRE : MINERALITY LOVERS
Home to the very appreciated Chenin Blanc, the Loire Valley is producing amazing sparkling wines. We featured Vouvray in our last newsletter, exclusively made with that grape.
Domaine Pinon is only producing Vouvray, appellation exclusively made with Chenin Blanc. Their wines are characterized by the minerality coming from the tuffeau terroir. Le Brut, their bestseller, is a treat! With delicate bubbles, floral and white fruits aromas, and a balanced acidity gently sweetened, it's perfect for sipping solo, pairing with cheese, or celebrating any occasion.
While Chenin Blanc is also present in the Crémant de Loire, a high proportion of Chardonnay is allowed. It gives more briochy notes and a roundness in the bubbles.
Domaine des Varinelles’s Crémant, certified organic estate, is a little atypical in the region : 100% Chardonnay, aged minimum 36 months. Fine but round and complex, it is an amazing value bubbles (price point being the lowest Crémant in our portfolio!), that will be a perfect alternative of Champagne.
Saumur is made from limestone and schist soils, ideal terroirs for bubbly production thanks to their freshness. Often with 100% Chenin Blanc, other grapes are allowed in the winemaking process.
Domaine de la Paleine produce an atypical Saumur white, blend of 4 different grapes (including Cabernet Franc and Grolleau Gris), giving more complexity and acidity, A classic Crémant de Loire is also produced.
With the different terroirs adapted to all the different grapes, there is a Loire Valley wine for every occasion, you just have to taste them to know !
CREMANTS D‘ALSACE : FANTASTIC VALUES
Alsace, Champagne’s neighbour, is known as the Great White Wines region, thanks to its continental climate and its diversity of terroirs. The region produces wines with high acidity, essential for the creation of quality bubbles.
Our producers make very different styles of Crémants, that will fit every palate.
Domaine Rentz is producing a classic expression of Crémants d’Alsace : they are the best value sparkling in our Alsace portfolio! Made from Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, these bubbles that will please everyone.
Domaine Frey, certified organic, is showing the quintessence of the Alsace terroirs with Nature and Extra Brut, and longer ageing (minimum 24 months). With a touch of Riesling, the higher acidity found in their Crémant allows a great ageing potential for thinner and more delicate bubbles.
Domaine Loew is biodynamic and is recognized for the regularity of his production, and the excellent quality of his wines (awarded by their presence in luxury hotel around the world!). It produces nature Crémant. All you need is LOEW is made of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, aged for 3 years. A creaminess reminding the one of Nature Champagnes!
If you wish to know more about them and their bubbles, please let us know!
CREMANT DU JURA : SURPRISING BUBBLES
Jura is known for their wines with a very unique taste, due to the terroirs and the specific grapes such as Trousseau, Poulsard or Savagnin. However, did you know that a quarter of the Jura wines production is sparkling ?
Louis Bourdrel worked at Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau de Meursault and took over Domaine de la Croisée Comtoise in 2021.
His Crémant is made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and the unique Savagnin grape. Aged 15 months and manually moved on racks (the only one in our book!), the bubbles are extremely fine, the nose present hints of white flowers, citrus fruits and hazelnuts. The addition of Savagnin in the blend bring a unique aroma, making if a very special Crémant.
CHAMPAGNE : THE ICONIC REGION
We presented a few of our Champagne growers in our past newsletters, and we have since then added some in our portfolio.
MONTAGNE DE REIMS
Champagne Lafalise-Froissart is known to grow some of the greatest Pinot Noir in the area. Paul prioritizes the health of his soils and vineyards, working them with a horse. Low-intervention approach, parcel selection, Paul’s Champagne are terroir-focused, elegant and very precise! His cuvées are numbered, which can remind you of a certain House that does the same thing. The Cuvée 108 is Blanc de Noirs, probably the best we have in our portfolio. Aged on its lees in barrel for 8 months and an additional 24 months in the bottle, only 250 cases produced! His Champagnes are featured in Alain Passard’s restaurant, L’Arpège, which is a 3 stars Michelin restaurant in Paris.
Champagne Gounel-Lassalle is a grower of only 3 hectares, planted mainly with Pinot Meunier. The wines are absolutely outstanding, as great work was done to separate the terroirs, even within a plot! They are consulted by Geoffrey Orban, a renowned geology expert who reveals the DNA of Champagne soils with his ability to discern aromatic profiles in the scent of the earth. They are the favorites of Raimonds Tomsons, Best Sommelier in the World 2023!
COTES DES NOIRS
Champagne Maurice Vesselle is located in Bouzy, area known for the Pinot Noir! Didier produces structured Champagnes with a very high proportion of Pinot Noir, going up to 100% in his high-end cuvée Les Hauts Chemins. Didier’s Champagnes are Blancs de Noir and his secret is long ageing : minimum 5 years in his amazing chalk cella. Indeed he still have vintages Champagnes from the 70's that are sleeping in it!
COTES DES BLANCS
Champagne Louis Massing : new addition to our portfolio, it is 14 hectares split between Villeneuve, Avize, Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger, cultivated with great care! Planted mainly with Chardonnay, it is the best value Champagne in our portfolio.
Champagne Michel Genet : the Genet family produces exclusively Grand Cru, and their champagnes are characterized by the purity of the Chardonnay expression, along with a texture and a tension in the wines, coming from the Chouilly terroir. Michel Genet BB Nature is the flagship of the estate : it is a delicious zero-dosage with harmony, long-finish creamy Champagne yet tense! A vintage nature that will stuck in your mind!
MARNE VALLEY
Champagne Régis Poissinet is a very meticulous grower, with a vineyard mainly planted in Pinot Meunier divided in 35 plots and certified biodynamic. Régis' Champagnes are harmonious and express the spirituality, as the energies circulating in his cellar are really important for the balance of his Champagnes. His Rosé is the best Rosé we have in our portfolio, although it is a very confidential cuvée! Only 40 cases produced, it expresses the quality of work of Régis.
Champagne Solemme is completely dedicated to its vineyards: no additions, low human intervention, Olivier is passionate about his vineyards and having the cleanest grapes possible! He is making his biodynamic preparations himself, sources his grains and plants locally and is experiencing the phases of the moon to have the cleanest and purest Champagne, with a strong base of Pinot Meunier.
As we have more growers in our portfolio, please feel free to request the full book available in your state! And of course, feel free to request samples!
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Meet Bruno
![Bruno Lafon from bruno lafon selection](/static/adc00ffe14bc3bfb2d4e86c20e4ef6a0/b00f3/Photo_site_bruno_degust_13a44eeddb.jpg)
When I worked in the family Domaine in Meursaut in the 80s, I had the good opportunity to meet
Alain Chapel, an incredible chef who in turn, inspired a generation of chefs. Twice a year, Alain would
invite winemakers for what one could say..