NV Pierre Gimonnet et Fils 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne 750 ml

When The French Laundry pours a Champagne by the glass for years, you know it has to be that good. The one they’re always reaching for is the Pierre Gimonnet et Fils NV 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne, a clean and crisp grower Champagne that will capture your hearts just as it did ours.

If you walked into the restaurant today, a half-bottle would cost you $95—we have it for Wine Access members for significantly less. 

Pierre Gimonnet is the most well-known producer in Cuis, a premier cru village in the Côtes de Blancs that’s heralded for its cool climate Chardonnay that creates a racy minerality in the bubbly. Champagne expert Peter Liem called it “polished in the best sense of the word” and praised the wine for staying “true to their terroir origins.” To us, it’s a “very lively side to blanc de blancs,” with fine bubbles, citrus zest, and a “chalky mineral edge reminiscent of sea spray.” Wine Spectator gave it 92 points.

But Gimonnet Champagne is so much more than great reviews. It’s a sommelier darling that has a strong following by in-the-know wine drinkers. When you find it, you scoop it up. 

The Gimonnet family has been making Champagne for three generations, when they got their start in 1790. Today, the estate is run by Didier and Olivier Gimonnet, who have 25 hectares of vines planted in only premier cru and grand cru vineyards, and it’s almost exclusively Chardonnay. The brothers make standout blanc de blancs, so you know these guys are the authority on the style. (They are one of the select members of the Special Club too.)

This lean, sharp and crisp Champagne is what the Gimonnets call the classic “yearless” blend, the house style that defines the brand and the village. The blend is made up of five consecutive vintages, which gives the wine complexity and depth of flavor. There are salty notes—try pairing this with oysters—but also a strong minerality that calls for all sorts of food. They maintain the freshness in a unique way: Gimonnet keeps all its reserve wines in bottles on the lees, instead of tanks or casks, which decreases the oxidation and increases the autolysis. They are the only producers in Champagne to do it this way.

We know it will take only one sip of this premier cru blanc de blancs to be as whipped as the rest of us. At this price—65% less than a restaurant wine list—you ought to stock up.