Champagne Pannier – the house Champagne that over-delivers!
While the Champagne houses located in Reims and Epernay receive the lion’s share of attention and adulation due to proliferation and centrality, there exists one of the region’s best-kept secrets in the sleepy town of Château-Thierry – namely Champagne Pannier. Here in the heart of the Marne Valley, Pannier is one of the main players. Within their 800 year old cavernous cellars, winemaker and cellar master Philippe Dupuis – who has experience of over 20 vintages – creates top class Champagne from the classic varieties of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
While the Champagne houses located in Reims and Epernay receive the lion’s share of attention and adulation due to proliferation and centrality, there exists one of the region’s best-kept secrets in the sleepy town of Château-Thierry – namely Champagne Pannier. Here in the heart of the Marne Valley, Pannier is one of the main players. Within their 800 year old cavernous cellars, winemaker and cellar master Philippe Dupuis – who has experience of over 20 vintages – creates top class Champagne from the classic varieties of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Pannier’s stocks allow them the luxury of using up to 30% reserve wines which guarantees the Pannier style: freshness, fruit and length. The Pinot Meurnier (which imparts fruitiness) is from the Marne Valley, the Chardonnay (delicacy) is from the Cote des Blancs and the Pinot Noir (structure) is from the Montagne de Reims. The blend of ‘crus’ results in a very commendable weighted vineyard average of 92.5%. The reserve wines for the blend come from the three previous vintages.
Rated for "Quality" in Tom Stevenson's seminal work "Champagne", average score of 89.5 by the Wine Spectator, chosen for service by USAir, AerLingus, United Airlines, and in First Class on Eurostar, Champagne Pannier travels well.
