Notify me
NV Brut 1er Cru Champagne “Cachet Or”
J. LassalleIs there such a thing as all-purpose Champagne? It sounds redundant, as Champagne needs no purpose, but if we had to pick one, it would be Lassalle’s Cachet Or. Priced beneath its peers, it delivers the mouthwatering acidity required for a crisp apéritif, while the generous, creamy mouthfeel—lifted by a fine and persistent bead—is sufficiently ample for any number of refined (or less refined) culinary associations. No need for caviar, oysters, suits, and cocktail dresses; open a bottle for the simple sake of pleasure. There is much of that to be found here.
The Lassalle family mantra for this blend: base wine of at least four years old, full malolactic fermentation, no oak, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. The bottling is classic Champagne in every sense: full, rich, and luxurious, well-balanced, elegant, with a fine mousse, delicious to drink. You won’t find yourself missing anything, unless you chill only one bottle! There is no better Champagne on the market at this price.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | sparkling |
Vintage: | NV |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 1/3 Pinot Meunier, 1/3 Chardonnay, 1/3 Pinot Noir |
Appellation: | Chigny-Les-Roses |
Country: | France |
Region: | Champagne |
Producer: | J. Lassalle |
Winemaker: | Chantal Decelle-Lassalle and Angéline Templier |
Vineyard: | 50 years average |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 12% |
More from this Producer or Region
2011 Brut 1er Cru “Cuvée Angéline”
France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
NV Rosé Brut 1er Cru MAGNUM
France | Champagne
The Lassalle women craft a pale, elegant rosé Champagne, all about delicacy and lovely, plush fruit.
2011 Blanc de Blancs Brut 1er Cru MAGNUM
France | Champagne
Don’t miss this Blanc de Blancs, a powerful yet refined tour de force from one of the region's most consistent and talented growers.
2013 Brut 1er Cru “Special Club” MAGNUM
France | Champagne
The Spécial Club represents an elite association of growers who abide by such strict standards of quality, and the pedigree is evident with this 2012 release.
2011 Brut 1er Cru “Cuvée Angéline” MAGNUM
France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
2022 Rosé Brut 1er Cru “Cuvée Angéline” MAGNUM
France | Champagne
This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a Champagne of luxury, from its decadent golden tinge to the fine, persistent bead that playfully caresses the palate.
NV Rosé Brut 1er Cru
France | Champagne
This rosé Champagne from J. Lassalle is one of my favorite party tricks—festive, unexpectedly blush, and delicious.
NV Champagne Brut 1er Cru “Cachet Or”
France | Champagne
The bottling is classic Champagne in every sense: full, well-balanced, and elegant, with a fine mousse, delicious to drink.
2018 Coteaux Champenois Rouge “Chigny Les Roses”
France | Champagne
I know what you’re thinking: red wine from Champagne? Allow me to respond with a resounding yes!
2011 Blanc de Blancs Brut 1er Cru
France | Champagne
Don't miss this 2011 Blanc de Blancs, a powerful yet refined tour de force from one of the region’s most consistent and talented growers.
About The Producer
J. Lassalle
About The Region
Champagne
True Champagne must not only sparkle, but also must come from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France and be made using méthode champenoise—a process that involves prolonged aging of the wine as well as a bottle fermentation used to add the sparkle to the finished product. Though wine has been made in this region since at least the 5th century, Champagne as we now know is a relatively new creation. It wasn’t until the 19th century that sparkling wine production took hold on a large scale in much part due to improvements in the strength of glass for bottles and the embrace of French nobility of the sparkling wines of the region.
Only three grape varieties may be used to make Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The chalk-heavy soils not only provide complexity and texture to the finished wine, but also act as a natural humidifier thus keeping the vine’s roots warm during colder months of the year. There are grand cru and premier cru designated vineyard areas but unlike Burgundy, there are few lieu-dit vineyards (though in recent years there has been a greater interest in producing vineyard specific Champagnes).
Kermit’s first foray into the region came in 1981 when he began importing the wines of J. Lassalle and Paul Bara—two producers whose wines we still import. In the mid 2000s, Kermit began importing the wines of Veuve Fourny et Fils.
Of Champagne, Kermit says, “You might be surprised to learn that I don’t like a goût de terroir to dominate the taste of Champagnes. If it dominates, you lose finesse. I want some, obviously—but only enough to keep things interesting.”
More from Champagne or France
2014 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 1er Cru “Cuvée du Clos Notre Dame”
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
2019 Champagne Extra Brut Grand Cru “Jolivettes”
Nicolas Maillart France | Champagne
NV Brut 1er Cru “Grande Réserve” MAGNUM
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
NV Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 1er Cru
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
2019 Champagne Extra Brut 1er Cru “Les Coupés - Franc de Pied”
Nicolas Maillart France | Champagne
2016 Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut 1er Cru “Monts de Vertus”
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
NV Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 1er Cru HALF BOTTLE
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
2000 Rosé Extra Brut 1er Cru “Vinothèque” MAGNUM
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
NV Brut 1er Cru “Grands Terroirs”
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
2013 Brut 1er Cru “Special Club”
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
NV Rosé Brut Grand Cru MAGNUM
Paul Bara France | Champagne
NV Champagne Extra Brut 1er Cru “Montchenot”
Nicolas Maillart France | Champagne
2014 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 1er Cru “Cuvée du Clos Notre Dame”
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
2019 Champagne Extra Brut Grand Cru “Jolivettes”
Nicolas Maillart France | Champagne
NV Brut 1er Cru “Grande Réserve” MAGNUM
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
NV Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 1er Cru
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
2019 Champagne Extra Brut 1er Cru “Les Coupés - Franc de Pied”
Nicolas Maillart France | Champagne
2016 Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut 1er Cru “Monts de Vertus”
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
NV Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 1er Cru HALF BOTTLE
Veuve Fourny & Fils France | Champagne
2000 Rosé Extra Brut 1er Cru “Vinothèque” MAGNUM
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
NV Brut 1er Cru “Grands Terroirs”
Veuve Fourny et Fils France | Champagne
2013 Brut 1er Cru “Special Club”
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
NV Rosé Brut Grand Cru MAGNUM
Paul Bara France | Champagne
NV Champagne Extra Brut 1er Cru “Montchenot”
Nicolas Maillart France | Champagne
Where the newsletter started
Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch