Frédéric Savart Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne L'Ouverture NV

L'Ouverture is Fred Savart's entry level Champagne but it is far from one-dimensional. It is 100% Pinot Noir all from the village of Ecueil, half of which was fermented in mostly neutral barrel with the other half is fermented in stainless steel. The wine only sees partial malolactic fermentation. Fred doesn't guide the malolactic fermentation, instead it is the inclusion of reserve wine that goes through malolactic fermentation because it has gone more temperature swings. The wine is in equal parts a blend of three successive vintages and aged under cork, not crown cap. Dosage is 7g/L.

92 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The NV Extra-Brut L’Ouverture (base 2021), 100% Pinot Noir, is a wild, exotic wine. Kirsch, mint, cinnamon, dried flowers and rose petal add to the wine's idiosyncratic character. Small bunches and small berries in 2021 resulted in a wine with deep, intense color. This release is a blend of 60% 2021 and 20% reserve wines from both 2020 and 2019. The reserve wines spent nearly two years in wood, which adds quite a bit of texture. The Ouverture is a somewhat eccentric Champagne, but it works. Dosage is 3.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: January 2024. Drink: 2024-2032. (Mar 2024)"

91+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The l’Ouverture cuvée from Monsieur Savart is composed entirely from pinot noir grown in the village of Écueil, with half of the vins clairs barrel-fermented and raised in cask and the other in tank. Only the reserve wines that go into the blend have gone through malo for this wine, which is aged under cork, rather than crown cap prior to disgorgement. This release was disgorged in September of 2020 and finished with a dosage of seven grams per liter. It offers up a lovely nose of white peach, apple, patissière, chalky soil tones and a nice touch of orange zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and complex, with a fine core, good mineral drive, frothy mousse and lovely focus and balance on the long and youthful finish. This is a lovely bottle that will be even better with a few years in the cellar. 2021-2040. (Nov/Dec 2020)"

91 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "Based on the 2019 vintage and disgorged in February 2022, Savart's NV Brut Premier Cru L'Ouverture offers up expressive aromas of pear, honeyed orchard fruit, baking spices and fresh bread. Medium-bodied, lively and fine-boned, with a pretty core of fruit, lively acids and a pinpoint mousse, it's an attractive wine that's showing well out of the gates. Drink: 2022-2032. (Aug 2022)"