NV R. Pouillon & Fils Grande Vallee Extra Brut (base 2020-2021)
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Based primarily on the 2022 vintage and incorporating 10% reserve wines from 2021 along with 20% from the perpetual reserve, Pouillon’s latest NV Grande Vallée is sourced from five communes within the Vallée de la Marne—Avenay-Val-d'Or, Épernay, Festigny, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and Mutigny. This Pinot Noir-dominant blend is complemented by 20% Pinot Meunier and 15% Chardonnay. Disgorged in October 2024 with a dosage of two grams per liter, it unfurls in the glass with aromas of orange zest, ripe pear, hazelnut and spices. Medium- to full-bodied, it is both fleshy and precise, with ripe but vibrant acidity, a pillowy mousse and a long, sapid finish. Observant tasters will note that beginning with the 2019 base, Grande Vallée has replaced Brut Réserve, exemplifying Fabrice Pouillon’s emphasis on precision and detail.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Kristaps Karklins, Wine Advocate
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Based on 2022, with a little 2021 and perpetual reserve, the NV Champagne Grande Vallee Extra Brut is the best of what the Vallée de la Marne can produce in Fabrice’s view. A medium straw hue, it’s one of the “new” typical vintages, characterized by nice weather and diversity throughout the year, with good stress on the vineyard. It offers notes of apricot, red berries, orange, and grapefruit, as well as savory hay and fresh grain. Medium-bodied, yet with depth and richness, it’s light on its feet and features a refined, peppery mousse with a chalky texture. A lovely entry that has a lot to offer now or through the coming 8-10 years, it was disgorged in November 2024, with two grams per liter dosage. Drink 2025-2035. Founded in 1947 by Roger Pouillon, this estate is now led by Fabrice Pouillon, who continues the family legacy by combining respect for the terroir with innovative techniques. Fabrice has built a new winery where the 2025 wines are now being raised.