Savart & Dremont Champagne Ephemere 026 Grand Cru 2019

Savart & Dremont Champagne Ephemere 026 Grand Cru 2019 is a single-vintage blanc de blancs from the Côte des Blancs, made entirely from Chardonnay grown in Grand Cru parcels. This is the twenty-sixth release in the Ephemere series, a collaboration between grower Frédéric Savart of Écueil and the Dremont Père & Fils négociant house, designed to capture the distinct character of the 2019 vintage through parcel selection and Extra Brut dosage. The limited-production format makes each Ephemere release a snapshot of a specific harvest rather than a house blend. Frédéric Savart is a respected grower based in Écueil, known for meticulous vineyard work and expressive Pinot Noir, though here he focuses exclusively on Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. Dremont Père & Fils, a négociant with access to a broader range of terroirs across Champagne, brings the sourcing expertise that allows the Ephemere project to zero in on exceptional parcels each vintage. The 2019 growing season in Champagne was marked by early budbreak and a warm summer, yielding ripe fruit with natural acidity, and the winemaking emphasizes that balance through extended lees aging and minimal dosage in the Extra Brut style. The nose opens with white flowers, lemon zest, and green apple, followed by toasted brioche and a thread of chalky minerality. On the palate, the mousse is creamy but the structure is taut, with focused acidity carrying flavors of citrus, pear, and a saline edge that runs through the long, refreshing finish. This is a Champagne for oysters, crudo, or soft cheeses like Brillat-Savarin, and it rewards patient drinking—open it now for vivacity or cellar it for two to three years to see the brioche notes deepen. Savart & Dremont Champagne Ephemere 026 Grand Cru 2019 is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, as well as local Chicago delivery and nationwide shipping.