NV Lebeau-Batiste Champagne Brut Rosé 'Tradition'

Emilie Lebeau and her husband Florent met at 1am in a nightclub when they were 17 and have remained together as partners in life and wine ever since. Now, at the grand old age of 31, they oversee a multi-generation, multi-century, final-year-of-organic conversion farm that sits in what seems to be Champagne's most "in crowd", of-the-moment village, Chavot-Courcourt. Nestled against the western border of the Côte des Blancs, 15 minutes south of Epernay and a few minutes northwest of Grand Cru villages Cuis and Cramant, Chavot is a treasure trove of old vine Chardonnay vines and ancient limestone vineyards. Emilie and Florent are not "growers" in the severely austere, zero dosage, 100% pinot meunier, Aube definition of the word. On the contrary, this young couple bottles instantly gratifying, complexly textured, long lees-aged, and undeniably delicious and crowd pleasing wines. This wine is dominated by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with a 10% dose of Chardonnay. There is deep minerality and terroir-driven tension for Champagne geeks and also luxurious and plump fruit, biscuity notes and a judicious 8g of dosage for lovers of "classic" Champagne.