The Les Courtisols du Fût(ur) 2021 cuvée, made by Maison Sacy Soeur & Frère, is a single-village champagne from Verzy, a Grand Cru on the Montagne de Reims.
It is a cuvée that speaks of red fruits and citrus, in a fresh, crisp style. Its vinous texture (full-bodied and generous) is underpinned by a mineral tension.
This is a bottle you can serve at aperitif time, with Bayonne ham for instance, then return to at the table alongside a roast Bresse chicken. Only 1,960 bottles were produced.
The Terroir
The Les Courtisols du Fût(ur) 2021 cuvée is a Blanc de Noirs, made exclusively from Pinot Noir.
The Pinot Noir comes from the terroir of Verzy, a village classified as Grand Cru on the Grande Montagne de Reims, where Maison Sacy Soeur & Frère tends its vines. The grapes come from the "Les Courtisols" parcel, high up on the slope.
This open position at the top of the hillside makes a great deal of difference. Air circulates freely and sunlight reaches the bunches fully. Water drains away rather than pooling, so the vine stays restrained and its grapes concentrate. This ventilation protects them from damp and preserves the freshness that gives the wine its brilliance.
On this terroir, Pinot Noir brings structure and depth to the wine.
The Winemaking
Jonathan Sacy, the grower who heads Maison Sacy Soeur & Frère, chose to age this 2021 Pinot Noir in barrel. The oak brings subtle woody notes and a more enveloping texture on the palate. This choice gives the Blanc de Noirs a distinctive signature, balanced between generosity and freshness. The wine is then bottled under cork, where its bubbles are born.
1,960 bottles of Brut Nature have been produced. Nothing softens the wine: it keeps all of its tension and lets both fruit and oak speak without artifice. The sediment was removed in September 2025, so the bottle is ready to open.
The 2021 Vintage
2021 was a cool year on the Grande Montagne de Reims, and Verzy was no exception. These moderate temperatures slowed the ripening of the Pinot Noir: the grapes ripened slowly and were picked later than usual. This patience allowed them to retain lovely acidity (the vivid quality that gives a wine its sparkle and energy), with a measured sugar level. The resulting style is one of precision rather than opulence. For this cuvée, 2021 has left a vibrant freshness and a taut palate, carried by the finesse of this Grand Cru.
