Geoffroy “Expression” 1er Cru Brut, NV Champagne, France
Regular price $74.00
Unit price per
35% Meunier, 35% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
While this prominent grower estate has recently moved to the village of Aÿ, the Geoffroy name is inextricably linked to that of Cumières, where the family has winegrowing roots that date back to the 17th century. Today Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy and his father René farm 14 hectares of vines, 11 of which are in Cumières. A few parcels are located just across the border to the west in the adjacent village of Damery, while the rest is all meunier in the nearby village of Fleury-la-Rivière. Geoffroy’s vines average about 20 years of age, and the oldest are from 1926. Viticulture is described as lutte intégrée, or “integrated pest control”—it is heavily aimed at sustainability, eschewing all chemical weedkillers and employing methods such as the planting of cover crops, tilling of the soil and the encouraged habitation of predatory insects to combat vine pests.
The grapes from "Expression" are from two 1er Cru vineyards in Cumières and Hautvillers. 50% of this bottling is from 2021 grapes while the rest is from the estate’s perpetual reserve of 1970-2019 harvests. The must is fermented in a mix of enameled tanks and neutral barrels, then aged in the lees for 30 months.
Dry with delicious sliced-apple and chalk aromas with crushed-stone undertones. Cherry, blood orange peel and a hint of toast nuttiness. It's medium-bodied with a focused palate and a crisp, nervy, delicious finish.