DOMAINE MEA 'La Cuvee des Loups' 2018 MAGNUM

Domaine Méa's La Cuvée des Loups, which translates to "The Cuvée of the Wolves," honors the history of the Louvois village where wolves once emerged from the surrounding forests to wander through the sloping vineyards. What's interesting is this wine is only made in exceptional years to capture the unique signature of a single harvest. For the 2018 vintage, winemakers Sophie and Franck create a 100% Grand Cru from Pinot Noir (from Bouzy) and Chardonnay (from Louvois and Bouzy), which is fermented and aged for a full 12 months in a combination of oak barrels and stainless steel on its fine lees before bottling. It then spent an impressive 50 months maturing in their chilly chalk cellars before being disgorged with a bone-dry, razor-sharp Extra Brut dosage of just 1 g/L.

Why we love it: Magnum bottles are widely considered by winemakers to be the absolute optimal size for aging Champagne, as the larger volume slows down oxygen exposure, preserving a magnificent tension and vibrancy while allowing rich flavors to develop in parallel.

The vibe: It's game day and you've invited all your friends over. Ditch the cooler of beer and set this magnum on the counter next to a pan of loaded nachos, buffalo chicken wings, extra crispy tater tots and popcorn!