EPC Champagne Brut NV
- 92
- $72
- Drink by: 2026-2031
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The first of two releases from a new champagne producer, established in 2019, which is placing an emphasis on transparency. Every bottle will show full details, including varieties, location, vintages included, dosage and winegrowers. While we are certainly seeing this more and more with Champagne houses today, and they are infinitely more forthcoming with information than a decade or two ago, some certainly have a way to go, so this is a welcome development. They also employ lightweight bottles in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint. This release is a blend of 46% Meunier, 31% Chardonnay and 23% Pinot Noir, all grown in Epernay. The base wine is from 2023, which forms 77% of the blend, with the remaining 23% coming from reserve wines. Of course, none of this means anything if the wine itself is not good. A deep straw/gold hue, this is quite a toasty style which is ripe and forward with notes of stone fruits and hazelnuts. A wine of medium length, there are notes of florals and citrus emerging on the palate. A clean finish, this should be enjoyed for the next two to five years. Good value at this price.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
