France

The Doyard family traces their winemaking roots in Champagne back to 1677 but have been officially making wine under the Doyard label since 1927, and over the years, Yannick Doyard and his son Guillaume have become a beacon for precise, vinous, mineral-etched Champagne in the Côtes des Blancs. The domaine employs organic farming in the vines, with most of the vineyards worked by horse. This wine comes from a Vertus 1er cru and offers aromas of crisp stone fruits, pear, buttered toast, musky peach, and smoke. It’s precise and dry, having been disgorged this year with two grams per liter dosage after 48 months on the lees. It’s medium to full-bodied, pillowy, and precise, with a nicely concentrated core of fruit, racy acids, and a long, chalky finish.