Fallait Pas Commencer Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru

See: Light gold with deep yellow reflections and delicate, precise bubbles

Smell: Sea spritz mixed with oxidative notes of bruised apple skin, hazelnut and dried stone fruits

Taste: Lemon, lime pith and green almonds with just a hint of toasted brioche. Mineral structure and very precise with bright acidity and a gently textured midpalate. 

Pair: Pour this alongside crackers topped with soft farmer’s cheese, onion jam and sea salt. Or serve it with a dinner featuring baked halibut covered in buttery breadcrumbs, lemon and fresh dill. 

Celebrate: The living room scene is set with comfy places to sit, crunchy snacks and, of course,  Champagne on ice. T minus 20 minutes until your book club arrives to sip, nosh and gossip. Oh, and maybe you’ll also talk about the book, which you actually read this time. 

Village: Avenay Val D’Or

Region: Vallée de la Marne

Vintage: 50% 2016, 50% 2017

Varietal: 100% chardonnay

Disgorgement: 12/23

Dosage: 5 g/l

In 1982, Daniel Laurent began making Champagne with grapes he grew on two hectares of vineyards in the Premier Cru village of Avenay-Val-d'Or. His young daughter, Marie-Marjorie Laurent, grew up on the estate, helping wherever help was needed, learning the craft and developing a deep bond with both the family land and its legacy. 

After leaving for a time, Marie-Marjorie returned in 2023 to take over her father’s estate and begin a new endeavor of her own: Domaine des Arondes. Named for the migrating swallows (“les arondes” in Old French) that return to Champagne every spring, the micro winery is the vigneron’s homage to her family home, while at the same time, a symbol of renewal, curiosity and exploration. 

In the vineyards, Marie-Marjorie gently works her plots (now three hectares) by horse and plough with Clydesdales borrowed from a local company. Sheep, also on loan, graze on weeds and overgrowth between her vines. Back at the winery, Marie-Marjorie demonstrates a deep understanding of terroir, grape-variety selection and winemaking as each of the cuvées in her release (only 10,000 bottles a year) strikes the perfect balance of exceptional complexity and elegance. 

We Care Deeply About Your Grower Champagne.

Select “pick up” during check out, and we’ll safely store your bubbles in our temperature-controlled cave until you can collect them. Once we notify you that your order is ready, pop by at your convenience to pick it up and enjoy a splash. Or, if you prefer, give us a call, and we’ll bring it to you curbside.

Our new compostable, insulated packaging keeps your Champagne safe from breakage and at a constant temperature from our cave to you. Even so, we monitor the weather where you are, and if we feel that extreme heat or cold may affect the quality of your bubbles, we’ll be in touch to offer you options.

Out of town? On the run? Use the "Special Requests" field in your shopping cart or email us at info@fatcork.comto let us know. We’ll work with you to get the timing just right.