Notes from Wine Advocate:

"Disgorged in March 2026 with a dosage of 2.2 grams per liter, Chartogne’s 2022 Blanc de Blancs Hors Série unfurls from the glass with aromas of citrus oil, marzipan, cedar nut and bergamot, mingled with baked apples and a deft touch of oak. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and structured, it possesses an ample core of fruit animated by vibrant acidity and a pillowy mousse, culminating in a chalky, subtly almond-inflected finish. Derived from sun-drenched parcels in Avize—primarily on the lower slopes where shallow soils prevail—it was, as ever, vinified for some nine months in oak.

Based in the village of Merfy, in the Montagne de Reims, Alexandre Chartogne has been at the helm of his 11-hectare family estate since 2006 and has quickly become one of the grower Champagne movement’s most important figures.

Hors Série derives from several vineyards in Avize, mostly located at the lower parts of the slope with the thinnest topsoil, ranging from as little as 20 centimeters to one meter in some plots. Exposed mainly to the southeast, these vines benefit from ample sun exposure. This is Chartogne’s only wine from the Côte des Blancs, and it is always made from a single vintage, even when not declared. Hors Série combines power and chalkiness to striking effect."