R Pouillon et Fils, Le Montgruguet Champagne Extra-Brut, 2020

Le Montgruguet comes from a single parcel in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, where Pinot Noir grows on chalk and clay soils above the village—an airy, exposed site that lends the wine its lifted aromatics and vertical structure. Fermented and aged in oak, then bottled Extra-Brut, it’s one of the more delicate and quietly complex expressions in the Pouillon lineup.

The 2020 vintage brings out its subtle red fruit—wild strawberry, orange peel, and just a trace of spice—wrapped around a mineral core that unfolds slowly in the glass. There’s a floral edge here too, almost ethereal, and the absence of dosage allows every nuance to come through clearly.

Less about immediate impact, more about quiet layering, Le Montgruguet is Champagne for those who appreciate Pinot Noir’s finer-grained expressions. Perfect with sashimi, roast quail, or a long evening with nowhere to be.