jacques diebolt
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I learned to love Champagne in 1994. I was on the last leg of a whirlwind trip through the Loire and Burgundy with 14 “civilians” (the first and LAST time I’ll do that), sitting in the afternoon sun on the back patio of La Briqueterie, outside of Epernay.
Seated to my left was a man who at first glance reminded my of Artie Johnson (think back long and hard to Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In…”very interesting, but stupid!”). His name was was Jacques Diebolt, the prior year’s winner of France’s Vigneron de l’Anée, and holder of some of the finest vineyards on Champagne’s Côte de Blancs. Sipping his beautiful, non-vintage Blanc de Blancs, it was clear that what I’d always considered “good” Champagne, wasn’t…good that is, and that there reall was something to love in chalky hillsides south of Epernay.
Greg writes about this in his posting about Champagne’s label laws, and wraps it all up here in his posting, “real wine.”
To which I have nothing to add, except…you may spend a lot more money for lesser Champagne, and it’ll probably have some “famous” name on the label. But it won’t be as good a Jacques’ Champagne.
Download tasting notes for Diebolt Champagnes in PDF format