Champagne Jean Vesselle Extra Brut NV

Jean Vesselle’s Extra Brut brings the ripe Pinot Noir character of Bouzy into a drier, more precise style. Red fruit and citrus give the wine breadth, while low dosage and chalky acidity keep it focused.

It has the freshness you want at the beginning of an evening, but enough texture and depth to stay interesting beyond the first glass.

Quick Facts

• Region: Bouzy, Champagne, France
• Vineyard: Estate-owned Grand Cru vineyards in and around Bouzy
• Variety: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
• Style: Extra Brut, Pinot-driven grower Champagne
• Best For: celebrations, date nights, aperitif, dry-Champagne drinkers
• ABV: 12%

Why It’s a Petit Pick

Good grower Champagne under $75 is getting harder to find. When we had the chance to offer this step-up Jean Vesselle bottling at $65, we took it.

It has the depth, detail, and Grand Cru character we normally expect to pay more for, while remaining a bottle you can open for a birthday, a date night, a small win, or simply because the evening calls for Champagne.

Tasting Profile

Dry and precise, with enough ripe Pinot fruit and lees texture to keep the wine generous rather than severe.

• Aroma: Lemon, crisp apple, blood orange, raspberry, wildflowers
• Palate (Flavor): Red cherry, citrus, chalk, white pepper, brioche, almond
• Structure & Finish (Mouthfeel): Medium body, fine bubbles, bright acidity, lightly creamy texture, dry mineral finish

Winemaking

The estate-grown fruit is harvested by hand and fermented with native yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The wine spends approximately three years on the lees before disgorgement, adding brioche, almond, and a subtle creaminess without covering the fruit.

It is finished at Extra Brut levels, with only 0 to 2 grams per liter of dosage. That keeps the wine dry and chalky while allowing the ripe Pinot Noir character of Bouzy to come through clearly.

Serving & Pairing

Serve at 45 to 48°F.

Enjoy on its own or pair with oysters, sushi, raw fish, fresh shellfish, or creamy cheeses. The acidity and low dosage keep seafood bright, while the Pinot Noir and lees aging give the wine enough depth for richer bites.

Perfect For: birthdays, date nights, small celebrations, opening the evening, host gifts, keeping chilled for an unexpected occasion

Estate Overview

The Vesselle family has worked vineyards in Bouzy for close to 300 years. Today, Delphine and David Vesselle manage the estate and produce Champagne entirely from their own fruit.

As a grower-producer, Jean Vesselle controls the process from vineyard through bottling. The house is known for Pinot-led wines that show the breadth of Bouzy without losing Champagne’s freshness and precision.

Terroir (Place)

Bouzy is a Grand Cru village in the Montagne de Reims, where Pinot Noir develops more ripeness and red-fruit character than it does in many parts of Champagne.

The village’s chalk soils hold water while providing strong drainage. That combination supports ripe fruit while contributing the mineral tension and clean finish that keep this Extra Brut focused.