Edmond Barnaut was one of the first pioneers in Champagne to create his own brand outside of the controlling centers of Epernay and Reims. In 1874 he set up shop in Bouzy, where he owned vines and where he married Appoline Godmé- Barancourt (there’s a name!), heiress to additional vineyards in the village. Cellars were dug as deep as 15 meters underground, and the first cuvée made of two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay was launched. And it’s still made today, under the Grande Réserve label, with its reserve wine coming from a solera system (begun by Edmond himself) and maintained through five generations of Barnaut descendants! Philippe Secondé is the current descendant and arguably one of the more important ones. This is the original cuvée, and its reserve wine comes from the batch first made by Edmond Barnaut and replenished every year. The blend is approximately two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay, and represents 65% of the annual production. The result is Champagne’s richest and fullest-bodied wines.