Today we share the marvelous wines of Champagne Christophe Baron (CCB). Somewhat of an afterthought in the champagne region, Pinot Meunier is usually used in blends. Krug has used roughly a third Pinot Meunier in their ‘Grand Cuvee’ and Billecart-Salmon also makes a killer 100% Pinot Meunier Champagne.
The wines of Champagne Christophe Baron are a gem to discover. They are made in a magnum only format and also a and mailing list-only Champagne. All bottlings come from small vineyards in Champagne that that showcase 100% Pinot Meunier. They age incredibly gracefully as I recently uncorked a 2018 and it has massive aging potential.
Born to a long line of vignerons in Champagne, Christophe Baron trained in Avize (Champagne) and Beaune before moving to the United States and founding one of North America’s iconic brands, Cayuse Vineyards. Baron’s estate in champagne includes 3 hectares (7.5 acres) surrounding the villages of Charly-sur-Marne, Crouttes-sur-Marne and the hamlet of Porteron, and its vineyard holdings are made up of only very old parcels of Pinot Meunier.
CCB wines need to be served in a larger glass. They are round and generous, very textural wines that have shown well in a Riedel Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc glass, or a Riedel tasting glass. They also need a lot of time when opened and I recommend letting them sit for least 30 minutes prior to consuming. Finally, make sure to not serve these wines cold. They are best served at 42-45 degrees — or warmer! I personally think these wines really hit their sweet spot when they are quite on the warm side, where you can full evoke the full range of flavors and aromatics.
The new wines come from the 2021 vintage. This year saw frost which wiped out some crop followed by rainstorms in June that caused some flooding. The rains continued which negatively impacted some of the crop.Thinning and crop load was paramount to control in 2021, as yields were obviously down. This should be a producer vintage. Despite the vintage challenges, you are going to adore the CCB wines from this vintage which will be released to their mailing list in one year. Here are my reviews of the world-class 2021 champagnes by Champagne Christophe Baron (mailing list only) and learn more at https://champagnechristophebaron.com/
2021 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Hauts Blanches Vignes’ Champagne- Another rendition of this outstanding bottling, the 2021 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Hauts Blanches Vignes’ is composed of Pinot Meunier vines that date back to 1969. This location is a steep, southwestern facing spot, as this stunning champagne opens with ginger and lemongrass aromatics alongside pink grapefruit blossom and suggestions of tart cranberry. The palate is loaded with melon and citrus fruits, coming up fat and generous on the mouth, with loads of salty minerality. With more air wafts of passionfruit and nutty nuances emerge. Give this a year or two before consuming, as this beauty will live on for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2027-2040- 96
2021 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Le Dessus Du Bois Marie’ Champagne- The very savory and heady 2021 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Le Dessus Du Bois Marie’ Champagne comes from this tiny location in Crouttes-sur-Marne, planted to .0768 hectare/1.89 acre of Pinot Meunier that dates back in 1966. Salted French bread and lemon zest combines with rich cantaloupe and Yakima cherry fruit flavors on the palate. Very nervy, with a silky mousse, this is a stunning, dazzling champagne that is both viscous and refined. Try to resist this beauty for at least a year or two. Drink 2027-2040- 96
2021 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Alouettes’ Champagne- The brilliant 2021 Champagne Christophe Baron ‘Les Alouettes’ comes from a tiny parcel (.94 acre) location in the village of Charly-sur-Marne with vines planted back in the 1960s. Salted walnut and orange blossom mark the nose with wet gravel and suggestions of kumquat zest. The palate is round and fat, with an unctuous texture and gorgeous sense of length. The mineral and citrus zest finish entices, as this beauty has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2027-2040- 96