A. Lamblot, Frenesie Meunier, Champagne 2019 - 75cl

Frénésie. The word itself evokes delirium - that moment when conversation crackles like kindling, light falls absolutely right, and something expensive tastes like it genuinely means something. Régis Lamblot's Meunier from the old vines of Vrigny in Montagne de Reims understands that feeling better than most wines ever will.

Here is 100% Meunier, no dosage, vinified in both stainless steel and oak, aged over two years on its lees with manual remuage à la volée. This is the labour-intensive kind of commitment - the sort that costs time and discipline but builds complexity most modern houses won't even attempt. Only 985 bottles exist. It feels like owning a genuine secret.

In the glass, Frénésie shimmers copper-gold, the mousse fine and steady, each bubble a small act of precision. The aromatics are lush and serious: wild red berries, dark brioche, a hint of almond praline, beneath it all something chalky and pure that speaks of terroir. The palate is structured and powerful but never aggressive in spirit. Poached pear, stone fruit, a thread of salinity running through to the finish. The oak and the extended lees age lend richness but never heaviness - instead, it feels earned, like a conversation that's earned the right to be genuinely complex.

This champagne doesn't need time, but it rewards it. Drink now, or cellar for 8 - 10 years with confidence.

How to Serve

Chill to 8 - 10°C. Use a larger format glass - tulip or white wine glass - to let the aromatics breathe and develop fully.

Food Pairings

Red Burgundy in a glass calls for food with backbone. Try roasted game, aged Comté, or grilled lamb. Equally brilliant with richer fare - duck confit, beef tartare, or smoked salmon with fresh dill and crème fraîche.