"The Tellier brothers, Alexandre and Quentin, are crafting some of the most compelling récoltant-manipulant Champagnes on the market. We’ve paid two visits to the domaine in the past year, and each time the range was simply stunning." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Champagne Buyer
Based in the Sud-Épernay village of Moussy, brother Alexandre and Quentin Tellier are carving out quite the reputation for themselves in the grower-Champagne circuit, all the more impressive since they've only been making their own wines since 2016, after reclaiming some leased family vineyards. The holdings have gradually increased to include parcels in Pierry, Chavot-Courcourt and Cramant.
Like many excellent récoltants-manipulants, they focus heavily on site expression, which they largely achieve through strict organic farming and minimalist intervention in the cellar. From the entry-level cuvée to the highly limited single-vineyard gems, these are top-tier expressions that serious Champagne aficionados should get to know. The 2022 Les Massales 1er Cru Extra Brut is a blend of all three varietals, mostly Chardonnay, from vines in Pierry and Moussy, offering "a beautiful interpretation of the elegance and precision that define all of Tellier’s wines" as noted by B-21's Champagne buyer Andrew Kitz. Representing a superb village expression and burgeoning classic vintage for Champagne, the 94-point 2022 Vigne de Pierry 1er Cru Extra Brut is composed of 70% Chardonnay / 30% Meunier and hails from the Rocherets and Corrigots lieux-dits. An equal balance of chalk and flint endows the wine with "a super-intense aromatic constellation" and a "vivid, relentlessly energetic" palate profile, all of which results in "one of the finest values in grower Champagne in our inventory."
The domaine's single-vineyard wines are produced in miniscule quantities, and being highly allocated, availability is scarce, but each on is so worth seeking out. The 2020 Les Conardins 1er Cru Extra Brut comes from a single site planted on flint and chalk in 1965, a 100% Meunier with "tons of character" according to Antonio Galloni. The 2020 La Côte aux Cerisiers 1er Cru Extra Brut is made from the domaine's oldest Chardonnay vines planted in 1975. This 94-point, "rich and ample" Blanc de Blancs "conveys textural resonance and tons of class" in an expression that is capable of competing with many a grand cru from the Côte de Blancs. Speaking of which, the domaine's small holding in Cramant also produces "a wine of superb purity, transparency and class." The 2020 Cramant Grand Cru Extra Brut is a textbook example of the village's grand cru pedigree – "Weightless yet deep, this layered Champagne is seriously impressive. There are no hard edges or angular contours here," declares Galloni.
It goes without saying that we couldn't more thrilled to welcome the Tellier brothers into our direct-import fold, and once our avid Champagne clientele gets their hands on these wines, we are absolute certain they'll be every bit as thrilled.
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