Philippe Foreau, Vouvray Brut

Today’s overarching premise is simple: Vouvray is one of the world’s top-two terroirs for the noble Chenin Blanc grape and for those wishing to experience the most cellar-worthy and deeply classic expressions, the man behind today’s breathtaking wine will dominate any conversation. Philippe Foreau’s consistent mastery of Vouvray Sec (dry) has positioned him as one of France’s most celebrated and collectible white wine producers, but today’s thrilling gem takes it into fully sparkling, Champagne-method form. There’s no other way to say this: Foreau’s 2013 Brut is pure insanity for the price, containing three-dimensional depth and a profound sense of pedigree that could embarrass a shocking number of $75+ Champagnes. In fact, the day after tasting this barrel-fermented, eight-year-old stunner, I found myself drinking a $125 Blanc de Blancs Champagne, and all I wanted was to swap it out for today’s Vouvray Brut. This is easily my favorite sparkling wine release from Foreau, but it comes a