Herve Rafflin, Champagne 1er Cru Millesime, 2014

Hervé Rafflin farms just five hectares of Premier Cru vineyard across three villages on the Montagne de Reims—Ludes, Rilly-la-Montagne, and Chigny-les-Roses—producing between four hundred and a thousand cases per year depending on the vintage. The domaine traces its roots to 1840, but Hervé transformed it after taking over in 2001, converting to certified organic viticulture and embracing a natural winemaking philosophy. His plantings lean heavily on Pinot Meunier—over fifty percent—an unusual emphasis that gives his wines distinctive fruit and approachability. The 2014 vintage, once underestimated, has steadily risen in reputation: a cool year that produced Champagnes of exceptional acidity, tension, and aging potential. This millésimé captures that energy—bright, focused, and still evolving, with the kind of structural backbone that will continue developing beautifully in bottle.