Champagne Jean Vesselle Oeil de Perdrix Brut NV (Magnum 1.5L) This “eye of the partridge” style of Champagne was all but lost until the Vesselle family brought it back into prominence.

Oh, yes. For nearly 300 years, the Vesselle family has been farming the chalky soils of Bouzy and cultivating some of the village’s best-placed pinot noir vines. The family’s vineyards (all of which are rated Grand Cru) are planted to 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay, a fidelity to Pinot Noir that’s much greater than other houses in the region, and somewhat unique for the chalky soils in their parcels of the Montagne de Reims. Most houses nearby plant a majority of chardonnay, but none can argue with the Vesselle family’s results.

Following careful tending of the vines, the pinot noir for this wine is harvested by hand and allowed to macerate for up to 24 hours – absorbing just enough pigment from the skins of the pinot to give the wine this rosy hue – one that is said to resemble the color found in the eye of a partridge. The juice is then bled off from the skins and fermented in stainless steel tanks. From there, the wine is bottled and aged on the lees for three years, before disgorgement and a dosage of 5 g/liter. 

The wine itself is captivating and soulful – impeccably layered with tart cherries, raspberries, brioche dough, pink peppercorns, lemon zest, Korean pear, crumbled chalk, and smoky gun flint. There’s a lot going on here, and you’ll want to take your time to process it all. The finish is fresh and bright, but with a round, slightly honeyed note that lingers on and on. Classic Champagne elegance with signature Bouzy power, this “Oeil de Perdrix” is a winner on all levels.

We have a limited number of these beauties, at the best price in the U.S. so don’t miss out – bring one of these to any gathering and I promise this will be the first-gone and most-discussed wine of the night!