Marie Courtin Coteaux Champenois 'Le Blanc du Tremble', Champagne, France

2018 Marie Courtin Coteaux Champenois Le Blanc du Tremble, Champagne, France, showcases a thrilling departure from Champagne’s better-known bubbles, highlighting the soulful terroir of the Côte des Bars through still winemaking. Crafted by Dominique Moreau, this biodynamic Côteaux Champenois wine exudes clarity, texture, and a raw, elegant vibrancy rooted in both place and philosophy.

Product Details:

• Grape Variety: White Blend
• Style: Still white wine
• Alcohol by Volume: 13%
• Farming Practices: Biodynamic
• Closure: Cork
• Owner & Winemaker: Dominique Moreau

Sensory Description:

This wine pours a radiant pale gold and unfurls with a superbly nuanced bouquet, delicate yet expressive. Notes of white honey and ripe yellow fruit mingle with hints of wild herbs and floral nuances, avoiding any overripe compote character. On the palate, it is pristine and rounded, showcasing exceptional balance between its bright fruit core and a sapid, mouthwatering tension. Aged in both clay and sandstone amphorae, it delivers freshness with subtle earthy depth, and a saline minerality that begs another sip.

Winemaker's Background:

Dominique Moreau founded the Marie Courtin estate in 2005 in the hamlet of Polisot, within the Côte des Bars, the southernmost part of Champagne. Named after her grandmother, the estate reflects Dominique’s passion for terroir-driven wines made without compromise. Farming just 2.5 hectares of biodynamically tended vines planted in the 1970s, she champions low-intervention winemaking: no dosage, minimal sulfur, and natural fermentations. While best known for her Champagne, Dominique produces rare quantities of still wine under the Côteaux Champenois designation, such as this expressive Le Blanc du Tremble.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve chilled at around 50–54°F (10–12°C) in a Burgundy-style glass to allow the aromatic complexity and textural nuances to unfold. This wine pairs beautifully with refined seafood dishes like poached halibut or scallops with beurre blanc, as well as soft-ripened cheeses and root vegetable gratins. Its tension and purity also make it a superb companion to minimalist dishes with fresh herbs or mild spices.

2018 Marie Courtin Coteaux Champenois Le Blanc du Tremble, Champagne, France, is a rare gem that reflects not only the singular expression of place but the hands-off mastery of Dominique Moreau. Vibrant, elegant, and refreshingly distinctive, it delivers the essence of Champagne’s terroir in a still form for those seeking authenticity over convention.