One of our best-selling Champagnes of the year, it is hard to beat Coutier's Tradition at this pricing. After being sold out for a few months, we are finally getting more which are due to arrive this week. This is a serious bottle under $40 and a beautiful showing of what excellent grower Champagne is all about. This is a powerful and vineyard-driven example of Champagne, and highly recommended!
While Ambonnay is generally regarded as Pinot Country, R.H. Coutier's nine hectares are made up of 1/3 Chardonnay. Antoine's grandfather took the daring step of planting Chardonnay in 1948 – unheard of at the time – and today, Coutier is lauded as the premier grower of Chardonnay in the village.
The family vineyards consist of 40 plots located exclusively in Ambonnay, with an average vine age of 38 years. In 2019, the Coutiers began organic conversion, which felt like a logical step after years of working with great respect for nature, including never using herbicides and focusing only on organic fertilizers. The Coutiers also practice "lutte raisonnée," a method of vineyard management that encourages biodiversity and soil health, i.e. the use of a horse to plow, cover crop between rows, and minimal intervention.
While the family previously sold a portion of their annual harvest to negociant houses, and today, all fruit is estate bottled, this is a real grower's champagne! Their blends are more dominated by Chardonnay than one might normally expect from a house based in Ambonnay. The non-vintage Brut Tradition is comprised of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay and is among the great values in the region. This Cuvee is based around the 2015 vintage with the addition of 40% Reserve wine and was disgorged in June of 2021 with 6 grams per liter of dosage.
The champagne starts with a wonderfully bright and fresh nose of fresh green apple, baked apple, jasmine, and honeysuckle. The nose then develops further into creamy brioche and a little bit of sourdough, followed by the faintest hint of wet stone, granite, and fresh rain. The palate mirrors that excellent green apple acidity, and a delicate citrus flavor is followed by nutty marzipan and green almond on the finish.
The wine’s body, acidity, and dosage are incredibly balanced and complementary. The finish is beautiful and long and leaves you with so much time to enjoy the wine and find something new in every sip.
NV René-Henri Coutier Champagne Grand Cru Tradition Brut (2015)
NV René-Henri Coutier Champagne Grand Cru Tradition Brut (2015)
$39.99
$39.99
One of our best-selling Champagnes of the year, it is hard to beat Coutier's Tradition at this pricing. After being sold out for a few months, we are finally getting more which are due to arrive this week. This is a serious bottle under $40 and a beautiful showing of what excellent grower Champagne is all about. This is a powerful and vineyard-driven example of Champagne, and highly recommended!
While Ambonnay is generally regarded as Pinot Country, R.H. Coutier's nine hectares are made up of 1/3 Chardonnay. Antoine's grandfather took the daring step of planting Chardonnay in 1948 – unheard of at the time – and today, Coutier is lauded as the premier grower of Chardonnay in the village.
The family vineyards consist of 40 plots located exclusively in Ambonnay, with an average vine age of 38 years. In 2019, the Coutiers began organic conversion, which felt like a logical step after years of working with great respect for nature, including never using herbicides and focusing only on organic fertilizers. The Coutiers also practice "lutte raisonnée," a method of vineyard management that encourages biodiversity and soil health, i.e. the use of a horse to plow, cover crop between rows, and minimal intervention.
While the family previously sold a portion of their annual harvest to negociant houses, and today, all fruit is estate bottled, this is a real grower's champagne! Their blends are more dominated by Chardonnay than one might normally expect from a house based in Ambonnay. The non-vintage Brut Tradition is comprised of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay and is among the great values in the region. This Cuvee is based around the 2015 vintage with the addition of 40% Reserve wine and was disgorged in June of 2021 with 6 grams per liter of dosage.
The champagne starts with a wonderfully bright and fresh nose of fresh green apple, baked apple, jasmine, and honeysuckle. The nose then develops further into creamy brioche and a little bit of sourdough, followed by the faintest hint of wet stone, granite, and fresh rain. The palate mirrors that excellent green apple acidity, and a delicate citrus flavor is followed by nutty marzipan and green almond on the finish.
The wine’s body, acidity, and dosage are incredibly balanced and complementary. The finish is beautiful and long and leaves you with so much time to enjoy the wine and find something new in every sip.
