Forest Marie Brut Tradition NV

- A soft, spicy example of grower champagne from the northern areas of champagne

- Coming from a combination of 86 different plots that the family own

- Paid with antipasto board of hard cheese, prosciutto and even some Pâté en croûte

There is a real authenticity and integrity on show here, right from the very first cuvée, capturing the gentle, soft, spicy mood of this part of the world, making for a quintessential and well orchestrated union between the Massif de Saint-Thierry and Petite Montagne de Reims.

Spanning nine generations since 1746, Champagne Forest-Marié owns 86 plots in their home of Trigny in the Massif de Saint-Thierry and the premier crus of Ecueil, Sacy and Villedommange in the Petite Montagne de Reims. The family, Thierry from Trigny and Gracianne from Écueil, work with their children, Louis and Marthe. The vines average 40 years of age (and as old as 1930) and natural mulching has been practiced for 35 years. Fermentation is in vats and barrels, with a total capacity of 12,500L. Aged on lees in bottle for at least three years and usually five.

One third of each chardonnay, meunier and pinot noir

I am leading towards an antipasto board of hard cheese, prosciutto and even some Pâté en croûte