Who makes it
Champagne A. Francinet & Fils tastes berries in the vineyard to seek optimal grape maturity. The character of the vineyard guides the house's style and winemaking decisions. Herbicides have been eliminated entirely, and natural products are used to treat the vines.
The operation began as a family business in 1910. It holds Récoltant Manipulant status, a grower category in Champagne.
Where it grows
The producer's vineyards lie in Verzenay, Verzy and Villers-Marmery, and the house is identified as a Grand Cru producer. In Champagne, Grand Cru is a village classification, so it describes the status of the village source rather than a single parcel.
The classification and the cuvée name answer different label questions. Grand Cru names the village level, while Blanc de Noirs and Rosé de Saignée name wine styles.
What they make
The producer's Cuvée Exception pair comprises one Blanc de Noirs and one Rosé de Saignée. Cuvée Exception Blanc de Noirs uses Pinot Noir harvested in 2018. Blanc de Noirs is the term for a white sparkling wine made from dark grapes, so the wine stays white while the grape is Pinot Noir.
Cuvée Exception Rosé de Saignée is made solely from selected Pinot Noir through grape maceration. The pair changes colour and cellar handling while keeping Pinot Noir as the grape variety.