Yves Delporte Champagne Blanc des Blancs | NV

Like Bordeaux, I love Champagne for its tiny, “no-name” houses. When I tasted this Blanc des Blancs from Yves Delporte, it was like drinking the 6am pâtisserie: paper-thin croissant flakes, crisscross apple tarts, and warm, doughy baguette straight from the oven. I also loved its freshness, with just a shy oxidative note—versus the full-blown Bit-O-Honey versions, which overwhelm the fruit and Champagne’s sparkly minerality. Today, Pierre-Yves and his wife, Maurisette, oversee the estate and farm the family vineyards in the Grand Cru villages of Tours-sur-Marne and Bouzy. Sure, you can find Champagne for under $50. But a little mighty grower Blanc des Blancs this good… at this price? Almost impossible. Even if the label is borderline ugly, let’s keep this gem between us. ~Allegra Angelo