DOMAINE ROUSSEAUX-BATTEUX 'Les Potences' 2019

Fourth-generation Adrien Rousseaux manages a tiny 2.6-hectare estate based in the renowned Grand Cru village of Verzenay. Guided by a commitment to pure terroir, Adrien avoids all chemical herbicides and insecticides, entirely working this microscopic, 0.17-hectare single vineyard called "Les Potences" with a horse-drawn plow. The vines were planted back in 1975, yielding highly concentrated, small grapes. For the 2019 vintage, the base juice was aged entirely in old oak barrels for 10 months to gently round out the wine before spending roughly three years maturing in the bottle. Bottled as an Extra Brut with a near-absent 2 g/L dosage, this is a profound micro-production—with less than 1,000 bottles made per year.

Why we love it: This is a rare, hyper-focused gem in the world of grower Champagne with fresh brioche and ripe stone fruits. It's deeply driving and tight and the 2g/L dosage allows a heavy wave of chalky, savory minerality.

The vibe: You're having a slow weekend at home and have friends coming over later for dinner. You pop in a garlic herb pot roast and wait to pop open this bottle over dinner.