Champagne Baron-Fuenté Grande Réserve Brut

Appearance:
A lovely golden colour, bright and luminous, set off by fine, persistent bubbles forming an elegant bead, showing careful making and maturation.

Nose:
The aroma is refined and expressive, with stone fruit to the fore — ripe peach and dried apricot — alongside delicate floral nuances. Notes of honey and brioche also emerge, adding complexity and elegance, the result of the balance between the predominance of Meunier and ageing on the lees.

Palate:
On tasting it's harmonious, round and fresh, with a creamy texture and well-integrated acidity. The palate shows breadth and structure, keeping its fruity character and a long, slightly toasty, enveloping finish.

Pairing:
Ideal with toast and goat's cheese, as well as raw, poached or grilled fish. Its elegance and balance make it equally perfect as an aperitif for celebrating special moments.

The Baron family has farmed its own vines since the 17th century. For as long as anyone can remember, they have supplied grapes to many of the great names of Champagne, such as Moët and Krug.

But, although it took time, the moment came to make their own sparkling wines, and with the fruit of their vines they began to shape the dream of seeing the family name on their own labels and bottles.

In 1961 Gabriel Baron met the Spaniard Dolores Fuenté at the village dance. At the time being a winemaker carried little social standing, so when introducing himself he said he was a postman. Soon after they married and, as a wedding present, received a hectare of vineyard from the groom's family.

So they founded the maison of their dreams, a family winery in which the couple's descendants are still involved today. The first was Sophie, the couple's daughter, who joined the project in 1982. Ignace, the second child, joined the family in making the sparkling wines, bringing with him another 13 hectares of his own vines.

Today the siblings lead the project, with the help of their chef de cave, Orlando, the creative mind behind all the house's Champagnes.

The location of the 38 hectares of vines is more than privileged. Marl and clay soils make the perfect place for Meunier to show its full potential. Although it's the house's star grape, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are not far behind.