November 18, 2024
The unique Avize Grand Cru Champagne of the Legendary Fallet-Gourron
A ‘Grower Champagne’ producer who started before it was cool to do so
The Fallets began bottling their own Champagne in 1957, long before it was common for growers to do so, when most sold their grapes to co-ops or larger houses. Over the years, they cultivated a reputation for producing pure, old-school Blanc de Blancs from their top Chardonnay vineyards, which have long been sought after by the larger Champagne houses. Upon her husband’s death, Madame Fallet seamlessly took over the domaine, continuing the legacy of making wines with a singular, refined style.
Madame Fallet, the legendary steward of Domaine Fallet-Gourron, spent over six decades quietly crafting exceptional Blanc de Blancs Champagnes in the heart of Avize. Respected and revered, she remained an enigmatic figure in the Champagne world, steadfastly avoiding the limelight, just as her late husband had advised. Today, the estate remains in family hands, with Michel Fallet continuing its tradition of excellence and dedication to authentic Champagne craftsmanship.
The wines of Domaine Fallet-Gourron are always a blend of two successive vintages, aged a minimum of 7 years sur latte, which allows them to develop their full character. The domaine produces two main cuvées: the Extra Brut and the Non-Dosé Blanc de Blancs, both of which reflect the estate’s focus on precision and artisanal methods. These wines are released under various family labels, including Fallet-Gourron, Fallet-Prévostat, Fallet-Crouzet, and Fallet M, although the blend remains the same across all labels.
The Fallet family’s philosophy is to let the wines evolve naturally, carefully tending to each bottle until it reaches the perfect state of maturity before release. Their exceptional 75-year-old Chardonnay vines, planted in prized parcels, combined with the traditional, hands-on winemaking process, result in wines that consistently showcase the purity and structure of the Avize terroir.
Despite being rarely seen outside of Champagne, we have a very limited number of bottles available to offer. The offer is first come first served!
Fallet-Gourron Avize Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Grand Cru NV
Fine Wine Library Tasting note:
Made from 100% Chardonnay from the Grand Cru vineyards of Avize, the wine is matured in oak for 12-24 months before spending a further 7-8 years ageing on its lees. The result is a rich opulent Champagne that shows lots of yeasty brioche aromas, a hint of oxidative nuttiness balanced out by the classic chalkiness that Avize Champagnes offer. The palate is big and creamy but due to being on the lees for an extended time period, it has plenty of freshness and vibrancy to balance it out. It concludes with a long finish.