Ruelle‑Pertois ‘Cuvée de Réserve’ Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru, Champagne, France NV

Founded in the early 1970s by Michel Ruelle and Martine Pertois in the village of Moussy—straddling the Vallée de la Marne and La Côte des Blancs—this family-run house is now led by their children Benoit and Virginie. With six vineyard hectares and under 4,000 cases annually, the estate is known for precision-crafted Champagne from Chardonnay-dominant plots in Grand and Premier Cru villages.

• WINEMAKER: Benoit and Virginie Ruelle

• VARIETY: 100% Chardonnay – approximately 90% from Grand Cru sites (Oiry, Chouilly, Cramant) plus a portion from Premier Cru Pierry.

• TERROIR: Fruit is drawn from historic Grand Cru and Premier Cru parcels around Moussy and neighboring villages, with predominantly chalky soils and gentle slopes promoting elegance and mineral vibrancy.

• VINIFICATION: Non-vintage Blanc de Blancs with blending of multiple harvests and reserve wines—winemaker achieves harmony via meticulous cuvée assembly. Aged on its lees for approximately six years, with a dosage of around 7 g/L geared to finesse.

• AGING: Extended élevage on the lees for six years before bottling.

• TASTING NOTES: Offers peony, apple blossom, lime zest, grapefruit, and apricot on the nose, with delicate cream-textured mouthfeel, salinity, lemon rind nuances, and a long, invigorating finish. Bright citrus, orchard fruit, subtle toast, and mineral lift, with fine mousse and poised richness.

• FOOD PAIRINGS: Ideal with shellfish, crab, lobster, raw oysters, elegant canapés, or light, refined seafood dishes.

• SCORES:

  • 93 points – Allen Meadows, Burghound: praises its elegant yet persistent depth and flavor authority despite delicate mouthfeel.

  • 91 points – Vinous (Josh Raynolds): notes citrus/orchard fruit with toastiness and minerally closure.

  • 91 points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (David Schildknecht): highlights its creamily textured palate, floral perfume, and notable transparency of flavor subtleties.

From our 2025 Bottle Cult Notes:

This is my kind of Champagne: easy to drink but with depth and deliciousness.  It’s incredibly complete for the price, and one of the best under-the-radar Blanc de Blancs we’ve had in ages.

Ruelle-Pertois is based in Moussy, a little village that sits between the Côte des Blancs and the Vallée de la Marne. The estate is run by Benoît and Virginie Ruelle, the second generation to carry the family label. Their Chardonnay comes almost entirely from grand cru vineyards in Chouilly, Oiry, and Cramant, with a small portion from the premier cru village of Pierry, creating a wine that punches far above its price. The domaine farms just six hectares and makes fewer than 4,000 cases total, so these wines are as limited as they are undervalued.

The Cuvée de Réserve is 100% Chardonnay, made from a blend of two vintages and aged for six whole years on the lees before disgorgement. It’s finished with a dosage of 7g/L, which lands it in a beautifully balanced place. It’s dry but not austere, with just enough roundness to carry the chalky tension.

In the glass, there are aromas of citrus oil, apple skin, citrus blossom, and whipped cream. It's all clarity and texture up front—cool citrus, crushed shell, and chalk—but there’s also this quiet weight underneath. The palate is light and mouthwatering with notes of lemon curd, crushed oyster shell, and a roundness of buttered puff pastry from long lees-aging. It’s clean, mineral, and expressive, with lift and texture that makes it almost too easy to drink.

Enjoy this with anything from fried chicken to oysters, or do as the French do and pour it as an aperitif with a handful of salted potato chips. It’s a Champagne with real pedigree and zero pretense (just like me!) —Cara Patricia, DECANT Co-Founder