David Pehu is the fourth generation of his family to produce estate-bottled champagnes, and in his house you can see old Veuve Pehu labels from the early 20th century. His grandfather sold champagne under the Antonin Pehu label, and in the early 1970s his parents created Pehu-Simonet, with the introduction of vines from his mother’s side of the family. David has been involved in production since 1988, and at the helm since 1995. Of Pehu-Simonet’s 7.5 hectares of vines, six are in grand cru villages.  In addition to 3.5 hectares of vines in Verzenay, Pehu has holdings in Verzy, Sillery, Mailly and Bouzy in the Montagne de Reims, as well as 6.5 acres of chardonnay in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, in the Côte des Blancs. This wine hails from the revered Les Crayères de la Voies de Reims vineyard, in the village of Verzenay on the northeastern limits of the Montagne de Reims. 95 points on this beauty! Not a bad start to this Saturday, methinks!

100% pinot noir, grown on a soil of clay well-flecked with jagged shards and lumps of milky white chalk (crayères means chalk, after all). The fermentation is done in stainless steel, with the initial aging of the base wine occurring for just over a year in a split between 60% oak barriques (for textural richness and spice) and 40% stainless (for freshness and intensity). The wine is then blended and bottled for an additional six years of aging on the lees, before a disgorgement and dosage of a miniscule 1.5 grams/liter back in January 2021. This beauty is simply loaded with classic pinot noir notes of strawberries, raspberries, and cherries – with white peach and croissant dough notes interspersed with almond skin, chalk, and a smoky, spice finish. The acidity is brisk and taut, yet the full-bodied wine is complex and rich – impeccably balanced, and chalky, too! Only a handful of cases on this beauty, so do not delay!