2011 Champagne Jean Vesselle, “Le Petit Clos” Grand Cru Bouzy

Jean Vesselle’s 2011 “Le Petit Clos” is a breathtaking expression of one of Champagne’s rarest and most treasured vineyards: a tiny .08-hectare Clos nestled in the heart of Bouzy, a premier Pinot Noir terroir in the Montagne de Reims. Only 750 bottles of this Blanc de Noirs masterpiece were produced, with less than a quarter reaching the United States, making it one of the world’s most exclusive “clos” bottlings. The vines range from 15 to 30 years old, and each cluster was meticulously hand-harvested in 2011, then pressed into three Champenois oak barrels sourced from Champagne forests—new, once-used, and twice-used—to bring harmonized complexity with restrained oak influence. Following vinification without malolactic fermentation, the wine was aged on its lees in the family’s cellar for twelve years before disgorgement in 2023. This long aging period enriches the wine’s texture, imbuing it with profound minerality, vibrant freshness, and a seamless integration of Pinot Noir fruit pow