{"product_id":"bereche-fils-ambonnay-grand-cru-2020","title":"Bereche \u0026 Fils Ambonnay Grand Cru 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmbonnay sits on the eastern side of the Montagne de Reims, one of Champagne's most prized grand cru villages for Pinot Noir. Bereche et Fils farms a single .4-hectare parcel called \"Les Tourets\" here, south-facing at 110 meters on a 10 percent grade, with vines averaging 50 years old rooted in deep, brown, chalky clay. The south exposure and grand cru pedigree give the fruit a richness that sets it apart from the estate's cooler Montagne de Reims sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e100% Pinot Noir, fermented slowly in barrel, aged on the lees for 54 months before disgorgement, with malolactic fermentation blocked to preserve acidity. The 2020 vintage ran warm and dry, the third hot year in a row, though a cooler June and July kept the fruit fresher than 2018. The result is broad-shouldered but lithe: dark cherry and blood orange on the nose, a rich, textured mid-palate, and a long mineral finish that keeps the wine from feeling heavy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe People\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBereche et Fils has worked the Montagne de Reims since the mid-1800s, first bottling under the family name in 1928. Brothers Raphael and Vincent, the fifth generation, took the reins in 2004 and moved the estate to biodynamic farming, insisting on bottling each parcel on its own rather than blending across sites. Ambonnay was one of several grand cru parcels the brothers added to the estate's holdings, chosen specifically for how differently Pinot Noir expresses itself on the Montagne's eastern slopes compared with the family's older sites in Ludes and Mailly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe wine's richness works with roasted squab, a mushroom and thyme tart, aged cheeses like Comte or Beaufort, or pan-seared duck breast with cherry gastrique.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Old World","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50507100192991,"sku":null,"price":205.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P7010593.jpg?v=1782946336","url":"https:\/\/denverwinemerchant.com\/products\/bereche-fils-ambonnay-grand-cru-2020","provider":"Denver Wine Merchant","version":"1.0","type":"link"}