DOMAINE R.H. COUTIER Grand Cru

"Domaine R.H. Coutier Grand Cru" is an exquisite natural sparkling wine from the renowned Champagne house of R.H. Coutier, located in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay in the Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France. With a legacy spanning over five generations since 1619, the Coutier family tends to 9.3 hectares across 40 plots of vines averaging 38 years old, planted on south- and southeast-facing slopes of clay-rich chalk soils. This cuvée, often exemplified by their signature "Cuvée Tradition Brut," typically blends around 70% Pinot Noir—Ambonnay’s hallmark grape—with 30% Chardonnay, a rarity in this Pinot-dominated region due to the family’s pioneering Chardonnay plantings in 1946. Hand-harvested grapes ferment spontaneously with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks, with about half undergoing malolactic fermentation to preserve a balance of richness and vibrancy. Aged sur lie for 24-36 months (sometimes extending to 4-6 years), it’s bottled with a minimal dosage (around 6 g/L), unfined, and unfiltered, aligning with their shift toward organic practices since 2020. Pouring a luminous pale gold with a fine, persistent mousse, it offers aromas of crisp apple, red berries, and toasted brioche, underpinned by chalky minerality and subtle lees-driven complexity. The palate is both generous and precise—creamy texture meets lively acidity, culminating in a refined, lingering finish. Ideal with oysters, lobster, or as a celebratory aperitif, this Grand Cru reflects Coutier’s mastery of Ambonnay’s terroir, delivering elegance, depth, and a true sense of place.