It is sunny out, and I was able to work on my deck today! Today is all about the Bubble…

It is sunny out, and I was able to work on my deck today! Today is all about the Bubbles!! Today’s Bubbles are proper Champagne, and of course, there is an Oregon connection, but you will have to wait until August to get the rest of the story. I promise to circle back around with more details! I researched Françoise Bedel, and here’s a little backstory for you! Françoise Bedel, a single mother of two sons and a new winery, found herself in a tight spot. Her oldest son was very sick, and she could find no doctor or hospital that could cure him. Many weeks and months were spent searching for an answer. Finally, she took him to see an older couple in a nearby village who practiced homeopathic medicine as a last desperate measure. Under their guidance, Vincent, Françoise’s son and current winemaker at the estate was on the mend. She swore off modern medicine and, within months, had removed every chemical or synthetic material from her tiny winery. Françoise became a biodynamic winemaker before virtually anyone in the wine trade had ever heard of the term. Today the estate is still small (8.4 hectares / 20.7 acres), and Françoise and Vincent are doing things their way. While others champion the better-known Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they are in love with Pinot Meunier, and this variety features heavily at this address. This is not uncommon as the Marne Valley is known for the quality of its Pinot Meunier, and Françoise and Vincent only farm small amounts of Chardonnay (13%) and Pinot Noir (9%). In addition to their reliance on Pinot Meunier, Vincent and Françoise are also patient with their champagnes, and it is not uncommon for a wine to spend more than six years on the lees and frequently far longer. Low or zero dosage is the rule, chez Bedel. On my first sip of this wine, I immediately picked up the Pinot Meunier and understood why they say the grape is the workhorse of Champagne. You immediately encounter its presence on entry, but the finish is where this bottle shines through and through! I don’t think I have experienced a bottle of Bubbles where the finish exceeds 45 seconds. Truly fantastic!