Ever since Vinous reviewer Neil Martin famously called Marie Demets his “Sparkling Wine of 2022,” we’ve been dying to get our hands on allocations of this micro-production Champagne.
Just this past week, we were able to track down and locate the importer for Marie Demets Champagne here in the states and secure just a handful of cases. Every single grape in these wines is harvested by hand and you can tell when you taste them.
Because of low availability, these wines will not be available for walk-in orders, so please place your orders online in advance.
As Martin wrote in his glowing review: “Pierre Demets is the third generation winemaker who took over the running of the house in 2014, joined by his wife Mathilde three years later. It’s a tiny house in the middle of nowhere, apparently closer to Dijon than Reims. I appreciated its delineation and joie-de vivre. The palate has real weight and race, a vibrant Champagne with a fine edgy, citrus-led opening before subtle white peach, lime and Clementine notes furnish the finish. Prices for this are incredibly reasonable in the present inflationary climate for Champagne, so it is highly recommended!”
We were able to secure allocations of the $50 Brut Tradition and just a few scattered bottles of the $99 single vineyard “La Fôret.”
Not only is the Champagne some of the best we’ve ever tasted, the bottles are just as beautiful. Here’s the breakdown of what makes these wines so special:
Marie Demets Tradition Brut Champagne $49.99
Made with 100% Pinot Noir from 10 hectares of fruit in the Côte de Bars and Gyé-sur-Seine, this Blanc de Noir expression is the definition of elegance. Fine bubbles, elongated minerality, and perfect balance from front to back. This is easily the best $50 Champagne in the store right now (for as long as it lasts!).
Marie Demets “La Fôret” Extra Brut Champagne 2018 $99.99
An absolutely gorgeous Champagne in a stunningly beautiful bottle. Made from 100% Chardonnay from just 0.23 hectares of vineyard, La Fôret isn’t just a single vineyard Champagne, it’s a single vintage. The expression of a particular time and place. 22 months of lees aging gives it richness and weight, but the laser-like acidity and minerality are what immediately draw your taste buds in. Every single grape is hand-harvested and it shows. This wine is clean, delicate, fresh, and lithe on the palate. Lemon peel, mousse, and green apple in utter gracefulness. Do a side-by-side with Dom Perigon and it’s not even close. There’s no Champagne in the store this good at $100. Don’t miss it.