NV Collet NV Champagne Art Deco Brut Premier Cru 750 ml

Champagne Collet's Art Deco Brut is a dynamite, industry insider-favorite, over-delivering under-$45 Premier Cru Champagne. From a house based in Aÿ (home to Bollinger), the Collet boasts a creamy, toasty-brioche, rich style of bubbly with zippy acidity from a cellarmaster with serious pedigree. 

For two decades, Sebastien Walasiak (formerly of Delamotte and Pommery) has turned out profound Champagne at Collet, which for a long time only made appearances at highbrow industry affairs like Auction Napa Valley. This past November, it surfaced for generous pours at a private dinner honoring Steven Spurrier, the protagonist of the 1976 Judgement of Paris Tasting event. It was also poured at the 2020 Oscars. 

We came across it at one of our favorite Napa restaurants only because the sommelier brought up a bottle from her off-menu Champagne stash. But we’re ready to share this bottle with the masses because it’s practically criminal that this stunning sparkler is $45. And we can assure you that as Collet carves out more space in consumers' cellars the demand will soar (as will the price). Get ahead of the curve now, and thank us later.

Luckily, we locked in this allocation before it graced the red carpet, and are able to share it with Wine Access members at an incredible value price. Established in 1921, Collet is located in Aÿ, home to the likes of Bollinger, Ayala, and Deutz. Former Michael Mina wine director turned winemaker and author Rajat Parr has called Aÿ “a powerhouse” village, where south-facing slopes on lower hillsides turn out Champagnes with more weight and riper fruit flavors—hallmarks of Collet’s house style. 

Born in Épernay, Collet cellarmaster Sebastien Walasiak has breathed Champagne-rich air since birth and was destined to produce incredible wine—he spent several years working at the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, the governing body over Champagne rules, and even worked a stint at fabled houses Delamotte and Pommery.

Collet’s Non-Vintage Art Deco Brut Premier Cru blends 40% Chardonnay (something of a rarity around Aÿ) with 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier, aged a minimum of four years in 100-year-old chalk cellars. All told, the grapes are sourced from seven Grand Cru and 13 Premier Cru vineyards. 

This is a value Champagne that over-delivers for its price point (and out-competed some pretty fabulous bubblies at the SF International Wine Competition). Just to be sure, we asked for a sample, and at Wine Access HQ it received a unanimous “yes!” because of the combination of power, elegance, and rich profile that honestly warrants a much higher price tag. We know you’ll agree.