Jean Vesselle, Oeil de Perdrix Champagne NV

95 points Wine & Spirits
"In modern Champagne, any color that might bleed from the skins into the juice is usually filtered out, so the wine is clear. In this traditional style, Delphine Vesselle allows the ripe Pinot Noir grapes from her vineyards in Bouzy to bleed color from their skins, and doesn’t filter it out, hoping to preserve what she describes as the soul of Pinot Noir. Everyone on our panel was struck by this wine’s beauty, as its delicate touch seemed to connect with every scent and taste receptor at once. Auction-consultant Craig Ganzer commented on that complexity: “I just kept taking notes,” he said. The pink color and the range of green herbs in the scent seem to resonate through the wine, taking its radish-like tension and formal structure in an understated direction."

93 points Vinous
"The NV Brut Oeil de Perdrix is floral, resonant and super-expressive, the Oeil de Perdrix has so much to offer. The interplay of aromatic top notes and Bouzy richness makes for a compelling, open-knit Champagne that is an absolutely joy to taste. This is such a gorgeous and totally distinctive Champagne. I would prefer to give it at least a few more months in bottle, as it is a bit tight today, especially on the finish."

Vinous Reverie Notes
The family’s collection of top terroirs and generations of leadership in championing Pinot Noir are what make wines from Domaine Vesselle such eloquent examples of Blanc de Noirs Champagnes. For nearly 300 years, the Vesselle family has been tilling the chalky soils of Bouzy and cultivating some of the village’s best-placed Pinot Noir vines. Wines here combine a classic Champagne elegance with the signature Bouzy power, especially in wines such as the estate’s ‘Oeil de Perdrix.’ This unique rosé is a taste of Champagne history, a style of wine long forgotten before winemaker Delphine Vesselle - to honor the traditions of her Champagne-making grandparents—brought it back with great success. 100% Pinot Noir VINEYARDS: Estate vineyards are located in and around the village of Bouzy. Soils are the classic, chalky terroir of the Montagne de Reims. Tasting Notes: Aromas of red roses, orange zest, white pepper, light herbs. Medium-bodied yet light on the tongue; elegant, silky and balanced. Red berries, stone fruits, peppery finish. Food Pairing: As an aperitif or throughout a meal; its acidic balance and red-wine body make it endlessly flexible at the table.