NV Emile Paris Brut, Champagne, France (750ml)   

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A Quarterly Sparkling Wine Club Selection
After years of painstaking work in the region’s vineyards, Emile Paris decided to bottle Champagne under his own name in 1884. Located in the commune of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, just outside of Epernay, the Emile Paris brand was built on strict adherence to tradition and quality standards.

The house received a boost in recognition in 1920 with the designation of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ as a Premier Cru site and began to export its wines throughout Europe. Sadly, however, in the next decade business rapidly declined, and in his final years Emile signed over the winery to his son. By the onset of World War II, Emile Paris Champagne had completely dissolved and was no longer making wine; nearly 75 years later, négociant Patrick Bigar sought to bring this brand back to life. Sourcing from the house’s original vineyard sites, which had since been supplying grapes to Champagne monolith Philipponnat, Patrick enlisted the assistance of Gérard Cuperly as head winemaker; 2017 marked the first bottling under the Emile Paris name since 1940. This decadent expression of Champagne (50% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay) comes from vineyard sites in the Mareuil Sur Aÿ, in the Verzy, Verzenay sub-appellation, characterized by its chalk, marl and clay soils. The grapes were harvested by hand and whole-cluster pressed to ensure absolutely zero skin contact. Each pressing was fermented separately before being blended into the final cuvée; 18 months fine lees contact contributed to the richness of this irresistible Champagne. Deep golden hue, warm, buttered croissant aromas lead to a clean, full palate with notes of Honeycrisp apple, pear, dried apricot, toasted hazelnut and beeswax, finishing with zippy acidity a slight herbal note.