NV Michel Turgy Brut Blanc de Blancs Reserve Selection Grand Cru Mesnil Champagne 750 ml

All it takes is the word “Mesnil” to get any true wine lover's blood pumping.

Home to the most coveted Chardonnay vines in the region—and the source of wines by Salon, plus Krug’s Clos du Mesnil and Selosse’s Les Carelles, all of which can top $700 per bottle—it’s the crown jewel of the Côte des Blancs. It also might be the most magical source of Chardonnay in the world. Wine Enthusiast called it “the small village that houses the world’s best Champagne.”

That makes Michel Turgy’s Blanc de Blancs Reserve Selection one of the best-kept secrets in the wine world. The product of a vigneron with a fanatical attention to detail, it’s sourced entirely from Mesnil—and a full 30% of the blend is reserve wines from older vintages. Its quality and character have made it a mainstay at top restaurants, including NoMad LA and The French Laundry.

But for all the grandeur it delivers in the glass, the estate is tiny—Turgy’s vineyards add up to a mere six hectares, all of which are in Mesnil-sur-Oger, the formal name of the town. That allows for a hands-on touch in both the vineyard and in the cellar, where a traditional upright press and a long, gentle press cycle yield juice—and then wine—of impeccable precision and clarity of flavor.

Fermentation and aging take place in stainless steel tanks to preserve the detail and minerality associated with Chardonnay from Mesnil, before bottling and a full three years of aging en tirage. Turgy keeps the dosage light to encourage a brisk, electric style of wine that favors minerality over plush fruit. It’s a Champagne secret that we are more than happy to share!