Roses de Jeanne, Côte de Val Vilaine VV/R23

From Cédric Bouchard’s tiny Roses de Jeanne domaine in Celles-sur-Ource, Côte des Bar, this is Champagne with a serious sense of place. The Côte de Val Vilaine comes from a 1.42-hectare parcel of roughly 40-year-old Pinot Noir, on chalky soils that bring tension, salinity and finesse. Bouchard, a benchmark of terroir-driven Champagne, founded Roses de Jeanne in 2000 and champions single-parcel, minimal-intervention wines. The R23 release is based on the 2023 harvest, with biodynamic farming and stainless-steel élevage preserving purity. Expect red cherry, raspberry, citrus and flowers, with creamy bubbles, bright acidity and a wonderfully saline finish. Pair with grilled prawns, roast chicken or turbot.