Sabine Godme Blanc de Blancs Brut Premier Cru Champagne

2020 has been one doozie of a year, and it hasn't provided us with many reasons to pop the cork on a bottle of celebratory bubbly -- until now.

One thing I know for sure is that Hammond and I will pop the cork on a bottle of Sabrine's Champagne at 12:01 AM, January 1, 2021, as we watch 2020 fade away in the rear-view mirror!

The Godmé family's Champagne house was established in Verzenay in 1930 by Michèle and Bertrand Godmé. The couple's two children Hughes and Sabine, later divided the 11-hectare estate into two equal parts. Today, Sabine, her husband Jean-Marie Guillaume, and their two children Marie and Matthieu, represent the third and fourth generation of vignerons.

The estate is located in the center of Montagne de Reims, in the Grand Cru village of Verzenay. They also own vineyards in the Grand Cru village Beaumont-sur-Vesle and Verzy and the Premier Cru villages of Villers-Marmery and Montbré.

Champagne Godmé is a "grower Champagne house, meaning their wines are made entirely from grapes grown on their property. The Godmé family is a classic example of a small grower-producer in Champagne, and it's entirely a family affair. Sabrine is the winemaker, while her husband Jean-Marie grows the grapes, and their two children help in all aspects of the business.

Sabine and brother Hughes have very different ideas when it comes to winemaking. After they split the property, Sabine was free to make Champagne in the more traditional style that she prefers. Her wines focus on preserving their Grand Cru and Premier Cru terroir's nuance, and she employs a minimalist approach to winemaking, eschewing all overt manipulation.

During my last visit, I was blown away once again by the quality of Sabine's wines and the fantastic attention to detail the family applies from grape to glass. Since these wines are cleared through my good friend Craig Baker, I can offer them at unbelievable prices!