NV Maison Foucher Cremant de Loire Cuvee des Roys de Naples 750 ml

Beating the Restaurateurs to the Bubbly

You don’t find boutique sparkling wine that competes with Champagne very often—and almost never for under $20. When you do, you have to act fast, before the retailers and the Michelin-starred restaurants snap it all up. While we can’t name any names, we can say that we beat more than a few of our favorite NYC eateries to the punch to get 400 bottles of Maison Foucher’s Crémant de Loire. Racy yet focused, with enthralling notes of Meyer lemon, yellow apple, and salty minerality, this masterful sparkler—made to the same exacting standards as Champagne—is the over-delivering bubbly you’ve been holding out for. No need to hold out any longer.  

A blend of 50% Chenin Blanc, 25% Chardonnay, and 25% Pinot Noir, the Maison Foucher Cremant de Loire was grown on porous, tuffeau limestone mostly from the village of Montlouis. All of the grapes were hand-harvested and sorted twice, first in the vineyard and then in the cellar. Secondary fermentation took place in each individual bottle followed by two years of aging before the wine was released—just like in Champagne.

The latest disgorgement of the Masion Foucher Crémant de Loire largely consists of the 2013 vintage, with older vintages added all the way back to 2010. There’s an aged feel to the wine and and a lengthy finish that resonates for at least a minute—a rare achievement for a Loire sparkling wine.

Maison Foucher, founded in 1921, and still family owned, continues to produce some of the greatest values in the Loire. It’s no secret, which is why we had to outhustle more than a few distinguished restaurants to get an allocation. After what felt like countless phone calls, follow-up emails and a few dirty looks from other wine buyers, we’re proud to offer this small allocation to the Wine Access faithful.