2021 Etienne Calsac ‘Les Revenants’ Extra Brut Champagne, France

While finishing his studies in 2010, Etienne replanted a few rows of ‘forgotten’ Champagne varieties in one of his family vineyards in the Cte de Szanne. Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, and Arbanne were overlooked for decades, but Etienne was interested in making a Champagne ‘ l’ancienne’ in other words, the old fashioned way. In 2016, he kept the entire harvest of these new plants, which was enough to fill one 600L barrel. The wine was kept in said barrel for six months and then spent 30 months on the lees before disgorgement in the spring of 2023. After tasting this powerful and delicious Champagne which had been in Etienne’s mind for nearly a decade, one can only hope that he’ll decide to plant more ‘forgotten’ grapes!