Champagne AR Lenoble, “Intense Mag 14”

AR Lenoble is a rare breed in Champagne—both a highly respected house and independently owned since day one. This is a family resolute in both keeping operations close-knit and crafting the greatest expressions of Champagne; if you’re one for critics’ reviews (the list is long), they are certainly on their way! Today, however, we’re focused on one bottle in particular: “Intense Mag 14,” a groundbreaking new project that was secretly brewing for eight years in their chalk cellars.Without our visit to AR Lenoble last April, we would never have been privy to this unbelievable wine that is causing quite a stir around Champagne. But, alas, we were, and we tasted, and we immediately fell in love. When considering the price, prime terroir (a lot of this juice is Grand and Premier Cru), an eight year élevage, and the breathtakingly pure and complex style of AR Lenoble, this mere $42 bottle instantly becomes one of the finest values in Champagne. Hard stop. We lucked out finding this bottle bef