Champagne Andre Clouet Brut Grande Reserve

This is a new favorite of mine, and I love, love, love Champagne. Andre Clouet is a small grower with extensive holdings in the village of Bouzy. Pinot Noir does especially well here, yielding powerful, rich, and expressive Champagnes that are fuller-bodied and broader on the palate.

Clouet's current release is 100% Pinot Noir, and all of the grapes come from Grand Cru vineyards. Ripe, rich, and toasty, it offers up lovely notes of pear, apricot, apple, spice, white flowers, and brioche. It is complex yet incredibly drinkable, and it is one of the finest Champagne values in the world. - Josh