Marie Courtin is a highly sought-after Grower Champagne producer led by Dominique Moreau, who named her establishment after her influential grandmother. Dominique produces exceptional Champagnes in the Aube region, primarily using Pinot Noir, and follows Bio-dynamic farming principles to get the most site-driven expression from her wines. Her production is small, with less than 50,000 bottles a year, but her Champagnes are remarkable for their quality and vineyard character. One notable Champagne, Efflorescence, is a Blanc de Noirs made from old Pinot Noir, offering a rich, complex, and and precise Champagne that is consistently one of the best Blanc de Noirs from the Aube. It is vinified with native yeasts in used barrels, adding to its complexity and aging potential. Only about 9,000 bottles of Efflorescence are produced annually, and the 2018 vintage is particularly outstanding and is one of the highlights with its beautiful richness and old vine character. This has a lot to say and is a lovely example from Marie-Courtin not to miss at this low pricing!

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 94 pts! The 2018 Extra Brut Efflorescence, 100% Pinot Noir, is superb. Rich, ample and creamy, the 2018 is super-impressive. Old vines yield a Pinot of real character and nuance that stands out in a vintage in which so many wines are on the lighter side. Time in the glass releases so much Pinot breadth, structure and textural intensity. Hints of spice, kirsch and dried flowers linger. No dosage. Disgorged: December 2023. (Drink between 2024 - 2031)