Antoine Bouvet Champagne “Les Monts de la Vallée” Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut (R23)

Notes:

Cepages - 100% Pinot Noir
Terroirs - Avenay Val d'Or | Bisseuil | Mareuil sur Aÿ
Harvest - 2023 (75%) | 2022 (25%)
Dosage - 0g/L
Disgorged - 3/2026

Producer: Antoine Bouvet is a small family Champagne grower based in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Grande Vallée de la Marne. The domaine traces its modern history to Antoine’s grandfather, Guy Bouvet, who established the Champagne house in 1970. Antoine grew up working alongside his grandfather and took over the estate in 2013. Today he farms roughly 5 hectares spread among Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Bisseuil, and Avenay-Val-d’Or, with only a portion of that fruit retained for his own small-production Champagnes. Vineyard work follows organic and biodynamic principles, with soil cultivation and an emphasis on farming individual parcels according to their needs. In the cellar, Bouvet works with indigenous yeasts and oak, producing wines on a remarkably small scale and increasingly focusing his range around individual villages, vineyards, and grape varieties.
Vineyard: Les Monts de la Vallée is a Blanc de Noirs produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown across Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bisseuil, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. All three villages lie within the Grande Vallée de la Marne and provide the fruit behind this cuvée. Rather than isolating a single parcel, Les Monts de la Vallée brings together Pinot Noir from several of Bouvet’s holdings, giving a broader view of the variety across the domaine. The current Base 2023 release combines 75% fruit from the 2023 harvest with 25% from 2022, making the previous year an important component of the assemblage rather than simply a small reserve addition. Published information for this release also places the average vine age at approximately 40 years.
Winemaking: The fruit is harvested by hand and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, consistent with Bouvet’s low-intervention approach in the cellar. Vinification and élevage take place in oak, a defining element of the domaine’s winemaking and a method Bouvet uses throughout his range. For Base 2023, the assemblage is 75% 2023 and 25% 2022, followed by the traditional secondary fermentation and extended aging on the lees in bottle. The finished Champagne is 100% Pinot Noir and carries 0 g/L dosage. Despite the absence of dosage, the U.S. bottle is labeled Extra Brut, so that is the correct designation for this release. The Vins Rare bottling was disgorged in March 2026.
Technical Details: 100% Pinot Noir. Fruit comes from Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bisseuil, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Assemblage: 75% 2023 harvest and 25% 2022 harvest. 0 g/L dosage. Extra Brut. Disgorged March 2026.
Food Pairing: The Pinot Noir base, barrel élevage, and zero dosage give Les Monts de la Vallée enough structure to work particularly well at the table. Roast chicken, pork loin, duck breast, and mushroom dishes are natural matches, as are richer seafood preparations such as grilled lobster, scallops, or roasted turbot. Its combination of structure and freshness also works well with aged Comté, Chaource, or Brie de Meaux. For a simpler pairing, charcuterie or roast poultry would make an excellent place to start.

Antoine Bouvet Champagne “Les Monts de la Vallée” Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut (R23)

Name: Antoine Bouvet Champagne “Les Monts de la Vallée” Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut (R23)
Brand: Vins Rare
SKU: 102581
Price: 89.00 USD
Availability: InStock