Jacquesson Champagne Cuvee 746 Extra Brut

Jacquesson Champagne Cuvée 746 Extra Brut is a refined, grower-style Champagne crafted for those who appreciate nuance over noise. Built around a single base vintage and elevated with carefully selected reserve wines, it delivers precision, depth, and a distinctly dry, gastronomic profile. This numbered cuvée is part of Jacquesson’s acclaimed 700-series, which has redefined the concept of non-vintage Champagne by focusing on character and transparency rather than uniformity.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Cuvée 746 shows a bright, pale gold color with fine, persistent bubbles and a delicate, lively mousse. The nose opens with notes of ripe citrus, yellow apple, and orchard pear, layered with hints of white flowers, toasted brioche, crushed hazelnut, and a subtle chalky minerality. On the palate, this Extra Brut is taut, dry, and focused, with a beautifully balanced tension between ripe fruit and savory, mineral-driven structure. Flavors of lemon zest, baked apple, and stone fruit are complemented by nuances of almond, pastry, and a touch of spice, all carried by a racy line of acidity and a saline, lingering finish. The low dosage emphasizes purity and terroir, making this a Champagne that is both immediately engaging and serious enough to reward contemplation. With proper cellaring, it has the potential to develop additional complexity over 5–8 years, gaining more toasty, nutty and honeyed nuances while retaining its backbone.

Production
Cuvée 746 is crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir (here labeled Pinot Nero) sourced from top sites in the Champagne region of France, with a strong emphasis on premier and grand cru vineyards around Dizy, Aÿ, and Avize. These vineyards sit on classic chalk and limestone soils that lend finesse, tension, and a distinctive mineral edge to the wine. Harvest is carried out with careful selection in the vineyard to ensure healthy, optimally ripe grapes. Fermentation typically takes place in large oak foudres, allowing for gentle oxygen exchange and greater textural complexity, with the base wines often remaining on their lees before blending. The cuvée is then assembled with a majority from a single base vintage, complemented by reserve wines for added depth, followed by long aging on the lees in bottle. Finished with an Extra Brut dosage, the wine is deliberately dry to showcase the clarity of the fruit and the character of the terroir.

Food & Serving
Jacquesson Cuvée 746 Extra Brut is a superb food Champagne, ideal for refined, savory dishes. It pairs beautifully with oysters, scallops, and other shellfish, as well as sashimi, tartare of sea bass or tuna, and simply grilled white fish. It also works wonderfully with roast chicken, veal, or pork, as well as aged hard cheeses and delicate creamy cheeses that won’t overpower its finesse. Serve well chilled at about 8–10°C (46–50°F). A brief 15–20 minutes in the refrigerator after opening, or a light decant into a chilled carafe for the first glass, can help the wine open up aromatically, though extended decanting is not required.

Producer
Founded in 1798, Jacquesson is one of Champagne’s historic houses and a benchmark for serious, terroir-driven wines from the region. Based in Dizy, in the heart of Champagne, the domaine has earned a devoted following among sommeliers and collectors for its thoughtful, low-intervention approach and its focus on expressing place rather than producing a uniform house style. The 700-series cuvées, each numbered according to the base vintage, have been particularly influential, showcasing a more transparent, vintage-led philosophy for non-vintage Champagne. Consistently praised by critics, Jacquesson is regarded as one of the most important and progressive producers in Champagne today.