Arnould’s 2020 Heuristique is every bit as wonderful as the 2019, but it’s definitely not a carbon copy of the previous vintage. The Chardonnay, sourced from Delphine Cazals in Mesnil, typically drives this 50/50 blend, and that was certainly true of the 2019, but in 2020 the Pinot character is much more pronounced, especially on the nose. Certainly, the Chardonnay component is at the forefront in aromas pure peach, yellow plum, and apricot pit, along with faint wisps of Meyer lemon, but under all that lies an expressive red fruit foundation of tart raspberries and strawberries backed by a slight hazelnut/praline thread that declares this wine’s Pinot-country origins. The palate is more assertively Chardonnay with very well-defined citrus, green apple, and fleshy pear. Where the 2019 showed a subtle, tropically ripe character on the palate, this 2020 is all energy, sizzle, and balance, contrasting beautifully with the Pinot’s mid-palate weight. The floral high tones are also more vivid and prominent in 2020, resulting in a wine that pulls you in many directions at once. The 2020 is not just a great follow-up to the 2019. It’s a fantastic counterpoint that will make for some really fun side-by-side vintage comparisons over the next ten years or so.
93 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Champagne Buyer (Mar 2026)
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