Champagne Geoffroy, Rosé de Saignée, Brut Premier Cru, NV

“Disgorged in December 2019, the latest release of Geoffroy’s NV Brut Premier Cru Rosé de Saignée is derived from the 2015 vintage. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of peonies, mandarin orange and red berries, it’s full-bodied, rich and vinous, with a fleshy core of fruit, ripe acids and a gently phenolic finish. This characterful wine will be at its best at table.”-92WA

Disgorgement dates may vary

These days, many of the grower-producers are selling all the Champagne they can make. Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, who has 14 hectares in the Vallée de la Marne, is the fifth generation in his family to grow grapes in the region. While his family has always made a little wine, they began to emphasize Champagne production in the bad years after World War II, when they were unable to sell their grapes to the big houses. In the 1970’s Mr. Geoffroy’s father decided to keep all the grapes and turn them into Champagne. Walking through a hillside vineyard in Cumières overlooking the Marne, Mr. Geoffroy’s parcels were easy to distinguish from the others. The lush green grass growing between his rows of bare vines was evidence of his distaste for chemical pesticides and herbicides. “If you don’t have passion, you won’t make very good Champagne,” he said as he strolled the vineyard, waving at local hunters who also walked the rows, shotguns in hand, searching for rabbits and pheasants.