Hi, friends.
Before I get into it, a brief survey so I can better understand what you’re hoping to get from this little newsletter:
The confluence of two recent events led me to dream up this new offering. I'll tell you about them first.
The first: I was shop-sitting at Wild Child a few weeks ago when a very nice German man hopped off his bike and walked through the door. He had the energy of someone who knew what he was looking for, so I gave the general offer of help and went back to fighting with our POS system. A few minutes later, he bounded back into the front room and excitedly exclaimed, "You have the Emmanuel Brochet Champagnes!" After a very animated discussion of the new vintage and some recent changes at the estate, he called a friend to declare the gold he'd struck. "I already have a bottle, but he's been looking for it—he'll be thrilled." The friend confirmed he was, indeed, thrilled, and he asked us to set it aside for him—he was already on his way.
The second: After several years of missed opportunity due to parenting, I was once again able to make it to what I only sort of jokingly refer to as "The Event of The Season," Vineyard Road's annual Champagne tasting, during which dozens of wine professionals travel hundreds (or, in my case, 14) miles for the chance to taste hundreds of extremely rare Champagnes. It was, as it's always been, a moment that reminds me how lucky I am to do what I do.
Both of these events also reminded me how much I love Champagne.
For years, I’ve watched Champagne get relegated to the realm of celebration. But the region is so much more—an endlessly complex landscape of growers, soils, and styles that rarely make it beyond the cellars of those in the know. Especially the producers we work with—the grower Champagne folks who represent a tiny fraction of the Champagne world. This is where my work and obsession collide: uncovering the small, under-the-radar producers whose wines tell the real story of Champagne. It's one of the regions that got me started in wine, and it's one of the regions that most continues to hold my attention.
I’m thrilled to invite you into something new and very close to my heart: our Champagne-Only Club. The focus is simple—sharing bottles that expand the definition of what Champagne can be. From rare grower cuvées to experimental methods you won’t see in the broader market, this is a chance to go deep into one of the world’s most misunderstood—and most endlessly fascinating—regions.
I'm modeling this club to begin in October and run through December, with the holiday season in mind. It's the perfect gift, sure, but it's also the perfect opportunity to drum up a little more holiday magic at your own table. If there's interest to continue, continue we will!
For newsletter subscribers, the price is $650 for 3 months. Some months may feature two very good bottles, some months may feature one extraordinary bottle; I've already started sourcing some rare gems for this endeavor, and the lineups are looking QUITE good.
Due to the limited nature of the wines I’ll be selecting, space in the club is also very limited! To join this club, please email me directly at lauren@rebelrebelsomerville.com. We'll follow up with enrollment details.
CHEERS!
Lauren