94 pts Vinous Media – Antonio Galloni
The 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Verzenay Fins Lieux #6 Les Basses Correttes, 100% Chardonnay from Verzenay, is dazzling. The combination of Chardonnay from Verzenay, where Pinot is dominant, yields a deeply intriguing Champagne that marries power, freshness and depth. Orchard fruit, tangerine oil, smoke, crushed rocks and slate build as the 2014 shows its undeniable vinous stature. I loved it. Dosage is 1.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: February, 2021.

These are the best Champagnes I have tasted from David Pehu, by a wide margin. The wines are varietally and highly expressive of site and vintage, in other words, everything Champagnes made in this style should be. Moreover, I see more purity and none of the awkward notes, especially in the aromatics, that at times penalized these wines in the past. The choices of villages and preference for blocking the malolactic fermentation results in Champagnes of notable cut. I especially like the Chardonnays and Pinots Noirs from the north-facing village of Verzenay, but its pretty hard to go wrong with any of these wines. Impressive.

PEHU-SIMONET
One of the newer names I have been seeing pop up in Instagram and in conversations with champagne collectors, Pehu-Simonet is not a new kid on the block.  Run by fourth-generation producer David Pehu who has taken his 7.5-hectare domaine in the Grand Cru of Verzenay in a decidedly “Burgundian” direction. David works vineyards in Verzenay (3.5 ha Grand Cru), very small parcels in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Villiers Marmery, and the rest  in Grand Crus of Verzy, Sillery, Mailly, and Bouzy. Vinification is either in tank or in barrel, depending on the particular wine. Barrels are a majority second use Burgundy. No malolactic for all of his wines, including the red wines used for making rosé.

Champagne Pehu-Simonet "Fins Lieux #6 Les Basses Correttes Verzenay" Grand Cru Extra Brut 2014   94VM

Dosage:  1.5 g/l