MILLESIME SPECIAL CLUB

Pierre Peter's renowned single vineyard 'Les Chetillons' began life as a Special Club Champagne. It is the highest tier of classification a grower Champagne can achieve, officially referred to as the 'Club de Tresors' - Club of Treasures. Founded in 1971, the process to qualify is laborious. A first tasting is conducted by members every February, to ascertain whether the vintage is worthy of creating a Special Club - a vote which must be unanimous. Following this, a committee of oenologists and wine professionals taste every vin clair blind, disqualifying any which don't meet their exacting standards. Much like the 12 great livery companies, there are 12 founding members of the Club de Tresors who make their best wine - Marc Hebrart being one of them. This is, as the name would indicate, an incredibly special Champagne and 2018 was an otustanding vintage. It is a profound bottle of wine, for such a modest price.L&S (Aug 2024)

45% Mareuil-sur-Aÿ pinot noir, 15% Louvois pinot noir, 40% Mareuil-sur-Aÿ chardonnay; 6g/L dosage of MCR; disgorged December 2022

My idea is to blend pinot for fruit and chardonnay for elegance and to create a good balance between the two. After 2017, 2018 was like a paradise! Large volume, good quality, very easy to drink now, albeit not as complex or as ageworthy as 2019. Some years are very easy to produce high quality grapes, like 2018 and 2019. Some years are terrible, like 2017 and 2021. And 2022 was perfect!' - Jean-Paul Hébrart

This is the essence of Mareuil, leading out with the red cherries and red apples of pinot noir, with the grapefruit of chardonnay lending energy and dimension. The purity and juicy fruit style of the season are well expressed, underlined by confident, fine salt minerality and gently supportive acidity. It holds good persistence and just the right balance between succulent fruit and elegant refinement.

Tasted 2023 Rating: 94 Tyson Stelzer - The Champagne Guide