Brice Champagne Bouzy Vintage Grand Cru Extra Brut 2016

Brice Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Bouzy Vintage 2016 is a refined, terroir-driven Champagne crafted from the prestigious grand cru vineyards of Bouzy. This Extra Brut cuvée showcases the power of Pinot Noir and the elegance of Chardonnay in a wonderfully dry, precise style. From a single vintage and top-tier sites, it offers a transparent expression of one of Champagne’s most respected villages, tailored for those who appreciate nuance over sweetness.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this 2016 Bouzy Grand Cru displays a luminous pale gold color with fine, persistent bubbles that form a delicate, creamy mousse. The nose opens with ripe orchard fruits—think baked apple and pear—woven together with citrus zest, white flowers, and hints of brioche and toasted hazelnut from extended lees aging. Subtle notes of chalk, crushed stone, and a whisper of red berry reflect both the Pinot Noir influence and the chalky Bouzy terroir. On the palate, the Champagne is dry and precise, as befits an Extra Brut, yet generous in texture. Pinot Noir gives structure, red-fruited depth and a gentle vinosity, while Chardonnay brings lift, tension, and a saline, mineral backbone. Flavors of lemon curd, Mirabelle plum, crisp apple, and a touch of almond cream unfold with each sip, supported by vibrant acidity and a long, chalk-inflected finish. With its balance of fruit, minerality, and low dosage, this 2016 vintage is beautifully enjoyable now but has the concentration and structure to evolve gracefully for several more years in the cellar.

Production
Sourced exclusively from grand cru vineyards in Bouzy, on the Montagne de Reims, this Champagne draws its character from steep, south-facing slopes and deep chalk soils that help produce ripe, concentrated Pinot Noir and finely etched Chardonnay. Grapes are typically harvested by hand to ensure careful selection of only the healthiest clusters, preserving purity and freshness from vineyard to press. In the cellar, the base wines are vinified parcel by parcel, predominantly in stainless steel to safeguard clarity and precision of fruit, with select lots sometimes seeing neutral oak for added texture and complexity. After the blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is assembled from the 2016 harvest, the wine undergoes its secondary fermentation in bottle and rests for several years on its lees, developing depth and complexity before disgorgement. A very low dosage in the Extra Brut range allows the grand cru terroir of Bouzy to take center stage.

Food & Serving
This 2016 Extra Brut Grand Cru is a versatile food Champagne, well-suited to refined dishes that echo its tension and depth. It pairs beautifully with seafood—oysters, scallops, lobster, and sushi—as well as tartare of sea bass or salmon, where its acidity cuts through richness. Pinot Noir’s presence also makes it an excellent match for poultry in light cream sauces, roast guinea fowl, veal carpaccio, or even truffled dishes and aged hard cheeses like Comté or Parmesan. Serve well-chilled but not icy, ideally around 8–10°C (46–50°F), to let the aromatics fully emerge. A brief 10–15 minute rest in the glass, or a short decant in a wide-bottomed carafe if you wish to be more adventurous, can help the wine open up and reveal its full complexity.

Producer
Champagne Brice is a family-owned house based in Bouzy, one of Champagne’s most esteemed grand cru villages, long celebrated for its powerful and expressive Pinot Noir. With roots in the region going back generations, the Brice family has gradually shifted from grape growing to crafting their own terroir-focused Champagnes, highlighting the singular character of Bouzy’s chalk and south-facing slopes. Today, Brice is recognized among discerning Champagne drinkers for producing precise, low-dosage cuvées that allow the vineyard to speak clearly, often emphasizing specific crus and vintages. Their commitment to careful vineyard stewardship and thoughtful, minimalist winemaking has secured the estate a respected place among growers and smaller houses that champion authenticity and a strong sense of place in Champagne.