J. Vignier Champagne Brut Silexus Sezannensis (2016 Base)
Get Rewards
Become a Member and Earn points & Exclusive Rewards every time you shop.
The Vignier family history in Champagne dates to 1530, the time of Nicolas Vignier of Bars sur Seine. Nicolas was a physician, lawyer, theologian, and court historian for Henry III. His descendant, Nathalie Vignier, is now the tenth generation to pursue viticulture and winemaking in Champagne, and the sixth generation to do so in the grand cru village of Cramant, in the Cote des Blancs. In the early 20th century, Nathalieโs grandfather, Paul LeBrun, had two hectares, taken over from his father, Henri LeBrun. Paul resolved to become an independent vigneron by separating himself from the big negociants after World War I and was among the first to do so in the Cote des Blancs. He established Champagne Paul LeBrun in the 1930s. Frank Schoonmaker โ a long-time collaborator with Alexis Lichene in the wine trade, and together two of the most influential figures in shaping American views on European wine in the last century โ was the first to import the wines to the U.S. Nathalie and her brother, Jean, took over the domaine from their parents 12 years ago, with Jean on the business side and Nathalie in the vineyards and cellar. Nathalieโs husband Hubert Soreau (another Schatzi!) is the winemaker at Le Clos lโAbbe in Epernay. Through him, Nathalie and close family friend Sebastian Nickel (whose grandmotherโs family farmed land around Sezanne and held plots that became AOC Champagne in the 1960s) made the connections that enabled them to realize a shared vision and dream โ one with roots in Nathalieโs fatherโs profound understanding of the land. He had always told them there were โhidden treasuresโ in the 16.5 hectares of chardonnay in Cote des Blancs and Cote de Sezanne that constitute the Vignier LeBrun vineyards.