Bunnies & Bubbly

This absolute babe of a grower Champagne would be gorgeous for Easter Sunday.

What is grower Champagne?
It’s Champagne that’s made and bottled by the person who actually grew the grapes. According to Wine Enthusiast, less than 5% of the Champagne imported to the U.S. is grower Champagne. So, when you see it at your local liquor store or online, pay attention. Grower Champagne (Récoltant-Manipulant in French) is special stuff.

Champagne Crété Chamberlin Extra-Brut is a stunning example of a grower Champagne. Crété Chamberlin has been making Champagne since 1683. More recently, brother and sister team Mathieu and Blandine have taken over, and they are making some siiick bubbles. This guy is 70% Pinot Meunier and 30% Chardonnay—not your standard combination. (It’s less common to find Pinot Meunier as the main grape in a Champagne blend.) I prefer a Chardonnay-dominant Champagne, and actually thought I was buying one: Last Bubbles accidentally advertised this as 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Meunier. But, it’s one of the happiest mistakes I’ve happened upon in awhile.

This Champagne has a pale straw color with gold highlights, and a gorgeous fresh nose: aromas of apple, pear, and a bit of brioche, plus some stone and minerals. It spent two years sur lie (aging on the lees or dead yeast cells) and you can pick up some of that yeasty goodness here. The Pinot Meunier brings great fruit to the party—giving this Champagne a leaner, fruitier vibe than a Blanc de Blancs (a Champagne made with Chardonnay only).

Crété Chamberlin produced only 5,159 bottles of this stunner (just over 400 cases) so I feel like I got a steal, paying $55 for it on Last Bubbles. It would pair perfectly with Easter brunch (eggs Benedict or Florentine), Easter dinner (ham and scalloped potatoes), shrimp cocktail, lobster, or just sip it solo.

Chin!