Falmet, Joël

Joël Falmet is a new discovery for us in the Vallée de l’Aube, an area which has been a great source for small production, recoltant-manipulant, “terroir” Champagne. Full-bodied and full of rich character, just under 1200 cases of the NV Brut are produced annually. The predominant varietal is Pinot Noir, with 20% Meunier and 10% Chardonnay. The soil here is limestone and matches that of the Upper Kimmeridgean soil, like in Chablis, which is barely a stone’s throw to the south. Though many of the “Grand Marque” houses source grapes in this region to add body and richness to their Champagne, it is still relatively rare to find estate bottle wines from this excellent source.

In 2009 the New York Times Tasting Panel picked Joël Falmet as its top rated champagne below $40. They described it as "full of lively energy, with complex flavors of flowers, minerals, citrus and herbs, and with more finesse than you generally find in Champagnes dominated by the pinot noir grape.

Asimov, E. (2009, December 23).Champagnes Below $40 Regain Pop. New York Times.