Thierry Fournier Réserve Brut NV – 91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Champagne

91 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST! 80% PINOT MEUNIER! UP TO 70% RESERVE WINES! VINES AVERAGING 45 YEARS OLD! UP TO FIVE YEARS ON LEES! JUST 5 g/L DOSAGE! THE MAGNIFICENT THIERRY FOURNIER RÉSERVE – SERIOUS GROWER CHAMPAGNE FOR JUST $105!

91 Points – Wine Enthusiast

Thierry Fournier Réserve Brut NV – Champagne, France

RRP $105 per bottle

NOW THIS IS EXACTLY THE SORT OF CHAMPAGNE WE LOVE DISCOVERING AT LIQUID VIBE!

There are the enormous Champagne houses.

The famous international labels.

And the Champagnes that everybody recognises.

But some of the most exciting wines in Champagne are being produced by smaller family growers.

People who work their own vineyards.

Understand their terroirs.

And make wines with genuine individuality.

THIERRY FOURNIER IS ONE OF THOSE PRODUCERS!

And the Réserve is a magnificent introduction to this exciting family estate.

Based in the beautiful village of Festigny.

In the heart of the Vallée de la Marne.

Where Pinot Meunier is capable of producing Champagnes with extraordinary richness, texture and complexity.

And the details are seriously impressive.

91 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST!

80% PINOT MEUNIER!

10% CHARDONNAY!

10% PINOT NOIR!

UP TO 70% RESERVE WINES IN THE 2021-BASE RELEASE!

VINES AVERAGING APPROXIMATELY 45 YEARS OF AGE!

UP TO FIVE YEARS ON LEES IN DOCUMENTED RELEASES!

JUST 5 GRAMS PER LITRE DOSAGE!

FAMILY WINEMAKING HISTORY DATING BACK TO THE 1930s!

JUST $105 A BOTTLE!

Think ripe yellow peaches.

Fresh apricots.

Golden apples.

Fresh pears.

Lemon zest.

Warm brioche.

Toasted almonds.

Delicate biscuit.

And a beautifully refreshing chalky finish.

This is Champagne with genuine personality.

Wonderful fruit concentration.

A generous, creamy palate.

Beautifully integrated bubbles.

And the sort of freshness that makes you immediately want another glass.

THE RICHNESS OF PINOT MEUNIER. THE COMPLEXITY OF RESERVE WINES. THE ELEGANCE OF GREAT GROWER CHAMPAGNE!

Champagne Thierry Fournier – A Family Estate Dating Back to the 1930s

The story of Champagne Thierry Fournier begins in Festigny.

A small village in the Vallée de la Marne.

And a place where the Fournier family has been growing grapes and producing wine for generations.

The family's winemaking history dates back to the 1930s.

And over time, the estate developed a deep understanding of the vineyards surrounding Festigny.

In 1983, Thierry Fournier joined his grandfather in the family business.

He continued developing the estate.

Expanding the vineyard holdings.

And building a reputation for Champagnes that reflected the character of the Vallée de la Marne.

Today, the family farms approximately 15 hectares of vineyards.

Spread across 11 villages.

But the next major chapter arrived in 2020.

JULIEN AND MAXIME FOURNIER JOINED THE FAMILY ESTATE!

Representing the next generation.

And bringing new ideas to the domaine.

The family introduced a new visual identity.

With a braided logo symbolising family connections, movement and the contours of the landscape.

But the philosophy remains grounded in the vineyards.

Beautiful fruit.

Thoughtful winemaking.

And Champagnes that express their origins.

A MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY ESTATE – WITH A NEW GENERATION DRIVING QUALITY FORWARD!

Festigny – One of the Vallée de la Marne's Fascinating Villages

Now here's something that makes Thierry Fournier particularly interesting.

FESTIGNY!

A village located in the small Flagot Valley.

Just behind the hills that flank the Marne.

This is an important distinction.

Because the Flagot Valley has its own distinctive growing conditions.

The valley has an amphitheatre-like shape.

With vineyards facing north.

South.

And east.

This variety of exposures provides different ripening conditions.

And contributes to the complexity of the estate's wines.

The soils include clay and limestone.

With marl-rich subsoils.

These conditions are particularly well suited to Pinot Meunier.

A grape variety that can produce beautifully expressive Champagne.

With generous fruit.

Wonderful texture.

And vibrant freshness.

FESTIGNY – A FASCINATING TERROIR FOR EXCEPTIONAL PINOT MEUNIER!

80% Pinot Meunier – The Star of the Show

Now here's the first thing that makes this Champagne so exciting.

80% PINOT MEUNIER!

That is an enormous proportion of Meunier.

And it defines the character of Thierry Fournier Réserve.

For many years, Meunier was often treated as the supporting grape variety in Champagne.

But a new generation of growers has demonstrated just how extraordinary it can be.

And Thierry Fournier is a magnificent example.

Meunier contributes beautiful fruit concentration.

Generosity.

And wonderful texture.

Think ripe yellow peaches.

Fresh apricots.

Golden apples.

And delicate spice.

It can produce Champagnes that are wonderfully approachable.

But also possess genuine complexity.

And when grown in carefully managed vineyards, Meunier can deliver impressive structure and depth.

80% PINOT MEUNIER – THE BEAUTIFUL GENEROSITY AND TEXTURE OF THE VALLÉE DE LA MARNE!

10% Chardonnay – Freshness and Precision

The next component is Chardonnay.

10%!

And although it represents a smaller proportion of the blend, its contribution is important.

Chardonnay brings freshness.

Citrus.

And mineral precision.

It helps balance the generous fruit character of Meunier.

And contributes to the Champagne's beautifully defined finish.

The result is a wine that feels rich.

But never heavy.

Generous.

But beautifully refreshing.

10% CHARDONNAY – THE PERFECT TOUCH OF ELEGANCE AND FRESHNESS!

10% Pinot Noir – Structure and Depth

The final component is Pinot Noir.

10%!

Pinot Noir contributes additional structure.

Depth.

And subtle red-fruit complexity.

It helps support the richness of Meunier.

And adds another dimension to the finished Champagne.

Together, these three varieties create a beautifully balanced blend.

80% MEUNIER. 10% CHARDONNAY. 10% PINOT NOIR.

A MAGNIFICENT EXPRESSION OF THE FOURNIER FAMILY'S VINEYARDS!

Up to 70% Reserve Wines – Extraordinary Complexity

Now here's where Thierry Fournier Réserve becomes particularly interesting.

UP TO 70% RESERVE WINES!

The 2021-base release contained an extraordinary 70% reserve wines from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 harvests.

And that is a very substantial proportion.

Reserve wines are retained from previous vintages.

They allow the winemaker to introduce additional complexity.

Depth.

And maturity.

They also help balance the character of the most recent harvest.

For Thierry Fournier, reserve wines are a particularly important part of the estate's philosophy.

Earlier releases used a perpetual reserve.

And the 2022-base release contained approximately 50% wines from previous harvests.

The result is Champagne with wonderful layers of flavour.

Fresh orchard fruit.

Brioche.

Biscuit.

Toasted nuts.

And subtle savoury complexity.

UP TO 70% RESERVE WINES – AN EXTRAORDINARY LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY FOR A CHAMPAGNE AT THIS PRICE!

Mature Vines – Approximately 45 Years Old

Another important detail is the age of the vineyards.

VINES AVERAGING APPROXIMATELY 45 YEARS!

That is impressive.

The estate's mature vineyards have developed extensive root systems.

And these can contribute to the production of beautifully concentrated fruit.

The vineyards are harvested by hand.

And the family works carefully to preserve fruit quality.

The result is Champagne with wonderful depth.

Concentration.

And a genuine sense of place.

MATURE VINES – BEAUTIFUL FRUIT CONCENTRATION AND VINEYARD CHARACTER!

Sustainable Viticulture – A Serious Commitment to the Vineyards

Another important part of the Fournier story is its approach to viticulture.

The estate has achieved HVE certification.

High Environmental Value.

And VDC certification.

Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne.

These certifications recognise environmental management practices in the vineyards.

The family has also transitioned a portion of its vineyard holdings towards organic cultivation.

This reflects a commitment to vineyard health.

And the long-term future of the estate.

For a family that has worked these vineyards for generations, that is particularly important.

A FAMILY ESTATE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF ITS VINEYARDS!

Up to Five Years on Lees – Wonderful Maturity and Complexity

Now here's another reason this Champagne is so compelling.

UP TO FIVE YEARS ON LEES!

Documented releases have spent an extended period ageing in bottle before disgorgement.

And this is an important part of the wine's character.

After the second fermentation, Champagne remains in contact with its lees.

Over time, this contributes additional complexity.

Fresh brioche.

Toasted bread.

Biscuit.

And delicate nutty characters.

The mousse becomes beautifully integrated.

The palate develops additional texture.

And the wine gains wonderful depth.

But the great achievement is maintaining freshness.

Because Thierry Fournier Réserve possesses a beautifully vibrant finish.

EXTENDED LEES AGEING – MAGNIFICENT COMPLEXITY AND BEAUTIFUL FRESHNESS!

Just 5 g/L Dosage – Beautifully Restrained Champagne

Now here's another detail that matters.

JUST 5 GRAMS PER LITRE!

The producer documents a dosage of 5 g/L.

A beautifully restrained level.

In fact, that falls within the Extra Brut dosage category, although this Champagne is also sold under the Réserve Brut name.

Dosage is the small addition made after disgorgement to balance the finished Champagne.

At 5 g/L, the emphasis remains on the fruit.

The texture.

And the character of the vineyards.

The result is a Champagne with wonderful richness.

But a finish that remains beautifully dry.

Fresh.

And precise.

JUST 5 g/L DOSAGE – EXTRAORDINARY BALANCE BETWEEN RICHNESS AND FRESHNESS!

91 Points – Wine Enthusiast

SERIOUS RECOGNITION FOR THIS MAGNIFICENT GROWER CHAMPAGNE!

Yellow Peach, Apricot, Brioche and Beautiful Chalky Minerality

Now this is where Thierry Fournier Réserve really comes into its own.

In the glass, the Champagne displays a beautiful golden colour.

The bubbles are fine.

And the mousse is wonderfully persistent.

The aromas are wonderfully inviting.

Ripe yellow peaches.

Fresh apricots.

Golden apples.

And fresh pears.

Then come the more complex characters.

Lemon zest.

Warm brioche.

Toasted almonds.

And delicate biscuit.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully generous.

There is wonderful fruit concentration.

A creamy texture.

And refreshing acidity.

The Meunier provides richness.

The Chardonnay contributes freshness.

And the Pinot Noir adds structure.

The reserve wines bring additional complexity.

And the finish is long.

Fresh.

Chalky.

And beautifully persistent.

A MAGNIFICENT COMBINATION OF RIPE ORCHARD FRUIT, CREAMY TEXTURE AND MINERAL FRESHNESS!

A Magnificent Champagne for Food

One of the great attractions of Pinot Meunier-dominant Champagne is its versatility at the table.

And Thierry Fournier Réserve is a magnificent example.

Seared Scallops

The Champagne's creamy texture complements the sweetness of scallops.

Fresh Australian Prawns

Wonderful with the wine's citrus freshness.

Blue Swimmer Crab

A magnificent pairing with delicate crab dishes.

Roast Chicken

The Meunier richness complements savoury roast poultry.

Pork Belly

The acidity balances the richness of pork.

Mushroom Risotto

The wine's brioche and nutty characters complement earthy mushrooms.

Aged Comté

Beautiful with the Champagne's mature complexity.

Soft French Cheeses

A wonderful pairing with the wine's generous texture.

Serve at approximately 8–10°C to appreciate its freshness and depth.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are particularly passionate about discovering grower Champagnes that offer genuine character and outstanding drinking pleasure.

And Thierry Fournier Réserve is exactly that sort of wine.

First, there is the producer.

A HISTORIC FAMILY ESTATE WITH ROOTS DATING BACK TO THE 1930s!

Then there is the village.

FESTIGNY!

Then there is the grape variety.

80% PINOT MEUNIER!

Then there are the vineyards.

VINES AVERAGING APPROXIMATELY 45 YEARS OF AGE!

Then there are the reserve wines.

UP TO 70% IN THE 2021-BASE RELEASE!

Then there is the dosage.

JUST 5 g/L!

Then comes the score.

91 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $105 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves richly textured Champagne with beautiful fruit concentration and genuine grower character, this is an outstanding choice.

A Champagne with history.

A Champagne with individuality.

And a wine that demonstrates just how exciting Pinot Meunier can be.

91 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST. 80% PINOT MEUNIER. MATURE VINES. SUBSTANTIAL RESERVE WINES. JUST 5 g/L DOSAGE. JUST $105!

Thierry Fournier Réserve – a magnificent expression of Pinot Meunier from one of the Vallée de la Marne's exciting family growers.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Thierry Fournier

• Wine: Réserve Brut

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Champagne, France

• Subregion: Vallée de la Marne

• Village: Festigny

• Family History: Winemaking dating back to the 1930s

• Grape Varieties: 80% Meunier, 10% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir

• Vineyard Holdings: Approximately 15 hectares across 11 villages

• Average Vine Age: Approximately 45 years

• Soils: Clay-limestone with marl subsoil

• Viticulture: Hand-harvested; HVE and VDC sustainability certifications

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Reserve Wines: 70% in the 2021-base release; 50% in the 2022-base release; other releases vary

• Lees Ageing: Up to approximately five years in documented releases; varies by bottling

• Dosage: 5 g/L

• Style: Meunier-dominant Brut / Extra Brut grower Champagne

• Alcohol: Approximately 12%

• Aromas: Yellow peach, apricot, apple, pear, citrus, brioche and toasted almond

• Palate: Generous and creamy, with fine mousse, vibrant acidity and a chalky finish

• Published Critic Score: 91 Points – Wine Enthusiast

• RRP: $105 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Scallops, prawns, crab, roast chicken, pork, mushrooms and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: 8–10°C

• Drinking: Beautiful now, with short-to-medium-term cellaring potential under suitable conditions