2014 A. Margaine Special Club Brut, Champagne

The vintage Blanc de Blancs [the “Spécial Club” bottling] from this grower based in the little-known village of Villers-Marmery at the far eastern end of the Montagne de Reims is refined, incisive, and vinous, built on understated lemon fruit, and acquiring tantalizing walnut-butter notes with time.

Andrew Jefford The New France

Quiet, humble, serious, thoughtful. Above all, a brilliant winemaker. That's Arnaud Margaine, and there isn't the faintest whiff of ego. We love that, and we love his champagnes. There's a really good range, all distinctively different, showcasing the amazing qualities that the local terroir brings to Chardonnay grown here.

'An island of Chardonnay in a sea of Pinot Noir'. That's how Terry Theise, the celebrated American wine importer, describes the village of Villers Marmery. Arnaud Margaine plies his trade in Villers Marmery, a little Premier Cru village just south of Verzy, on the northeastern edge of the Montagne de Reims.


It's true, here the Chardonnay grape variety rules. Champagnes from this area benefit from Chardonnay that brings a little more body to its wines, in contrast to that grown in the Cote des Blancs area a little further south, whose trademark qualities are elegance, lightness and finesse.