Le Cœur du Champagne

The Heart of Champagne

Last night I tasted a bottle of Jean Josselin Champagne, and it reminded me why I love wine so much.

Not just because it was good, but because it carried something more personal. It had freshness, class, and real character. The kind of bottle that feels connected to the people behind it.

In the bottle, this 100% Pinot Noir Champagne was fresh, lively, and full of character, showing red apple, strawberry, and soft brioche notes. The mousse was beautifully balanced, the acidity bright, and a long finish in the palette.

But what made the moment even more special was the memory it stirred in me.

As soon as I tasted it, my mind went back to France, to a special season of my life when I was living there and studying Champagne at Université de Reims. In that moment, so many fond memories came flashing back. The feeling of being surrounded by history, the pride of the region, the deep respect for the land, and the way Champagne was never just a drink, it was culture, craft, and identity.

Those memories are still very close to me.

Maybe that is why this bottle hit differently. It was not just about what was in the glass. It was about being reminded of where part of my wine journey was shaped. France gave me some of those early beautiful experiences of understanding wine more deeply, and last night that all came rushing back in the best way.

That’s what made this bottle feel special.

I’m also very happy to share that I’m joining in partnership with Tim Fenwick, owner of Three French Vines, a premium importer bringing grower Champagne into Aotearoa.

This is exciting for me because it speaks to the kind of wines I love sharing — wines with story, personality, and a real sense of place.

So, what is Grower Champagne?

Grower Champagne means the people who grow the grapes are also the ones who make, vinify, and bottle the wine, all under one roof. Unlike many of the bigger Champagne houses that buy fruit from across the region, these producers known in French as Vigneron Indépendant, work from their own land and put their own name behind the bottle. There’s a real intimacy and pride in that, and for me, that is exactly what came through in Jean Josselin.

That’s exactly what I enjoyed about Jean Josselin.

It felt honest. Precise. Full of identity.

This partnership with Tim and Three French Vines excites me because it’s about bringing in Champagne with real story, real provenance, and real personality. Not just famous labels, but bottles with heart.

For me, that’s the beauty of grower Champagne. Cheers to Three French Vines for connecting us New Zealanders to the real deal Champagne moments we deserve.

They grow it. They make it. They own the story.

And that is worth celebrating.