AOC. Champagne (Côte des Bar), France - 100% Pinot Noir from a single plot of 35–45 year old massal-selected vines planted in clay and limestone soils with Kimmeridgian bands in Polisot, cultivated according to biodynamic principles. The harvest is done by hand, and in the winery, the grapes are whole-cluster pressed using a wooden basket press. The must ferments spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks without artificial additives. After the first fermentation, the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle according to the traditional Champagne method and remains on its lees for more than two years (approximately 24–36 months) before disgorgement. It is zero dosage (Extra Brut with no added sugar), unfined, and unfiltered to preserve the maximum expression of the terroir and natural acidity. The name Résonance reflects the idea of balance between the “energies of the earth and sky” that influence the creation of the wine. Recommended by The Sommelier.
MARIE COURTIN CUVÉE RÉSONANCE BRUT NATURE 2021
Marie Courtin is a Champagne house with a history deeply rooted in the land, biodynamic viticulture, and a profoundly personal, artisanal vision. It was founded in 2005 by Dominique Moreau in the village of Polisot, in the Côte des Bar sub-region (Aube), south of Champagne. Dominique began working in viticulture in the early 2000s and, after acquiring a small vineyard, decided to name his project after his grandmother, Marie Courtin, whom he describes as a “woman of the land” and a key influence on his relationship with farming and rural life.
From the outset, Dominique’s approach was clear: to produce Champagnes that faithfully express the terroir of their vineyards, avoiding the homogenization typical of many producers who blend grapes, vineyards, and vintages for a uniform “house style.” Their wines are based on a philosophy of unity—single vineyard, single varietal, single vintage—meaning that each cuvée typically reflects a single plot, a single variety (primarily Pinot Noir), and a single harvest, allowing the character of the soil, microclimate, and vintage to speak for themselves.
Marie Courtin's vineyards are small and carefully tended using organic and biodynamic practices, progressively certified between 2006 and 2010, with meticulous attention to the plant's natural cycle and the ecosystem. Dominique even incorporates unconventional methods—such as the use of energy pendulums to assess the evolution of the grapes and the wine—reflecting both his respect for nature and his intuitive approach to viticulture.
Over the years, its production has remained very limited (often little more than 10,000–15,000 bottles annually), but it has gained recognition among enthusiasts and critics for the purity, minerality, and energy of its champagnes, which are typically made with zero dosage and minimal intervention in the cellar. The winery primarily cultivates Pinot Noir in clay and Kimmeridgian limestone soils, which impart a marked freshness and minerality to its wines, along with some Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc in smaller quantities for certain cuvées.
In short, Marie Courtin is a modern expression of biodynamic viticulture in Champagne, driven by a personal vision of terroir and authenticity, with wines that reflect the uniqueness of their origin rather than a predetermined style.
