MARX-COUTELAS 'Les Barils' 2020

Winemaker Bryan Marx crafts this cuvée from "Les Barils," a single plateau in the village of Venteuil that has held vines since the 11th century, making it one of the oldest recorded vineyard sites in all of Champagne. It is an even Pinot Noir and Chardonnay split from the 2020 vintage. Grown in chalky soil beneath a thin layer of sand and clay, it is fermented 70% in oak barrels and 30% in stainless steel. It spends four years resting en tirage before being finished as a bone-dry, unmasked Extra Brut with a minimal 4 g/L dosage.

Why we love it: It carries a beautiful, airy elegance layered over real structural muscle. Because Bryan blocks synthetic treatments and bottles with low sugar, the pristine nature of the old-world chalk soil punches straight through the glass. The nose is highly expressive, with orange blossom, ginger, and baked pastry crust.

The vibe: The perfect bottle to pop mid-week as you throw store bought cheese ravioli into water, and melt a stick of butter with sage for the sauce.