Pol Couronne Brut Cuvée 1887 Champagne NV

Pol Auguste Couronne founded his Champagne house in 1887. The house has made limited-edition Champagnes since then, and this cuvée is named for that founding year. Jean-Baptiste Prévost inherited the family business in 2013 and makes the wines today. The 5-hectare estate sells about 50,000 bottles a year across a handful of cuvées. Its cellar in Reims offers tastings, masterclasses and sabering workshops.

The 1887 Brut uses the three classic Champagne grapes in almost equal thirds: 35% Pinot Meunier, 34% Chardonnay and 31% Pinot Noir. The grapes are picked by hand. The house blends one main harvest with reserve wines from four earlier years for depth. Most of the wine goes through malolactic fermentation, but about 10% is held back to keep it fresh. The bottles then age at least 42 months on their lees before disgorging, well past the 15 months the appellation requires for non-vintage Champagne.

The house describes a pale gold wine with a fine, lively bead. The nose shows almond, citrus, hay and field flowers, with dried fruit as it opens. The palate starts with grapefruit and moves to straw, bread and a chalky, mineral finish.

Serve well chilled, at 43–50°F. It works as an aperitif, and the house suggests pairing it with prawn ravioli or a risotto of green asparagus and mushrooms.

The facts

• Producer: Champagne Pol Couronne
• Winemaker: Jean-Baptiste Prévost
• Appellation: Champagne AOC, France
• Grapes: 35% Pinot Meunier, 34% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir
• Vintage: Non-vintage (base harvest plus reserve wines from four earlier harvests)
• Vine age: 31 years (average)
• Harvest: By hand
• Aging: Minimum 42 months on lees
• Style: Brut
• Production: 35,000 bottles