Jacquesson No. 742 ‘Degorgement Tardif’

Jacquesson is an interesting Champagne producer — relatively young (established 1978) and playing somewhere between the large houses and growers. They’re technically an NM (negociant), but mostly source from their own sites and their neighbors, and their owners are extended family of the owners of Gaston Chiquet, a reputable Special Club grower-producer. In 2005, La Revue des Vins de France rated Jacquesson as the third best Champagne house, after Bollinger and Krug.

This cuvee is the late-disgorged version of their Cuvee No. 742, which is based on the 2014 harvest. Their standard numbered NV cuvées age for 3-4 years on lees, while these DTs spend 7-9 years on lees (similar to top vintage cuvées from big houses like Bollinger and Dom Perignon). This edition was disgorged in April 2023, and is a blend of 53% Chardonnay, 29% Pinot Noir, and 18% Meunier. Like more artisanal producers, Jacquesson skips fining and filtering, which makes their wines a bit wild. It’s labeled Extra Brut but technically is Brut Nature with only 0.5 g/L dosage.

Tasting Notes: medium gold color, with fine, lazy bubbles. Exotic, oxidative nose with bruised apple, ginger, and baking spices. On the palate, it has medium+ acidity, delicate mousse, and reveals some nutty, toasty notes that show the extended lees aging. Finish is long and saline. Delicious, expressive Champagne that drinks every bit its $150+ USD price point.