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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.
Flavor Profile: Red cherries and berries, brioche, pink peppercorn
Time on Lees: 3 years
Disgorgement Date: February 17, 2022
Dosage: 5 grams per liter
Farming Method: Certified Sustainable
Why We Love It...
"Oeil de Perdrix" was my first ever somewhat geeky foray into Champagne… and unlike repeat viewings of The Neverending Story (Artax! Artax!) – this wine has stood the test of time. A gently macerated, orange-ish, pink-ish hue – this was the style of nearly all Champagne from the Bouzy region prior to the 20th century. Made in the rosé de saignée style, where a light color is extracted into the juice before fermentation (most rosé Champagne today receives its color from the addition of a reserve red wine, often at disgorgement) this is a powerhouse of complexity and elegance that is just so much fun to drink and share. Did we mention we have these magnums at the best price in the USA?
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!
Technical Details
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Appellation: Montagne de Reims
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Winemaker: Delphine and David Vesselle
Farming Method: Certified Sustainable
Alcohol: 12%
Pair it with: Most anything – try it with beef tartare!
Fizz Meter
About the Producer
The family’s collection of grand cru vineyards and generations of leadership in championing Pinot Noir are what make wines from Domaine Vesselle such eloquent examples of Blanc de Noirs Champagnes. For almost 300 years, the Vesselle family has been farming the chalky soils of Bouzy and cultivating some of the village’s best Pinot Noir vines.
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