NV Andre Heucq Assemblage Extra-Brut, Champagne, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Grown on Limestone and Clay soils. The vines were planted in 1990. 40% Chardonnay, 30% Meunier and 30% Pinot Noir. 30% Maturation in Oak Barrels, 70% in Stainless Steel, followed by 60 months on lees. Lovely fruity and forward nose with this playful toasty and salty edge. Dry, crisp with just the right amount of fruit on the mid to late to lift it up. 

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Champagne André Heucq is a fourth-generation, family-run grower Champagne house nestled in the heart of the Vallée de la Marne. André Heucq and his daughter, Fanny, specialize in Pinot Meunier, crafting wines from nearly six hectares of estate vineyards. André’s grandfather—also named André—founded the house in 1936, but that was far from his first foray into Champagne. The farmer and winemaker had been crafting bottles for his personal consumption for years before sharing his passionate expertise with the world. His son Roger took the reins in 1955 and began a campaign to expand the entire operation. Roger planted additional vineyards and modernized the cellar, while maintaining the winery’s family-run principles and small-lot winemaking. In 1973, the younger André Heucq took over, and his tenure has been defined by a shift to organic and biodynamic practices. He and his small team plow by horse, maintain natural ground cover, and stick to natural fertilizers and herbal tea treatments. The winery itself is self-sustaining and ECOCERT certified for producing its own electricity, recycling wastewater, and utilizing geothermal energy with their cooling Canadian well system. Elsewhere in Champagne, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate the hillsides, but on this land, Pinot Meunier is king. The dark-skinned grape comprises 80% of Heucq’s vineyards, and features prominently in their wines. Outside the tiny village of Cuisles, these vineyards contain a layer of green illite, a crystalline-mineral clay rarely found in other parts of the region. It contributes to a house style of elegance, purity, and focused minerality.