BRICE ALLOUCHERY 'Les Blanches Vignes' 2018 MAGNUM

The 2018 harvest marks the exact year that Brice took over the winemaking responsibilities for his family estate in Écueil. This highly prized cuvée is a 100% Pinot Noir pulled entirely from "Les Blanches Vignes," a single parcel of old vines planted way back in 1964 by his grandfather. The vines dig deep into distinct, pale sandy-limestone and chalky soils. Fermented spontaneously with natural yeasts, it is aged for six months in oak barrels, spends three full years resting on its laths, and is bottled with a razor-thin 1.86 g/L Extra Brut dosage.

Why we love it: The large-format magnum allows the natural power of the 1964 vines to unfold with unbelievable elegance. The nose opens with a remarkably bright, unexpected lift of crisp lemon zest, red apples, and white peaches, before giving way to deeper layers of rich butter, fresh raspberry preserves, biscuits, and a distinct trace of sweet liquorice.

The vibe: Baby's first birthday party! The first year is all about celebrating the parents, right? Burgers and hot dogs are on the grill with a cake that's ready to be smashed.