Champagne Jacquesson - Cuvée 749 Extra Brut

Brought to the pinnacle of success by the Chiquet brothers, Laurent and Jean-Hervé, the house is the flagship brand for discerning wine connoisseurs. Recently, François Pinault acquired a stake in the company. We highly recommend these great, deep, and elegant champagnes. Each new Cuvée 700 (now 743) is a major creation and receives the utmost attention. It is then aged under cork before being released as a DT (late disgorgement) version. The single-vineyard champagnes with the ultimate complexity come from Dizy (Corne-Bautray, Chardonnay), Aÿ (Vauzelle-Terme, Pinot Noir), and Avize (Champ-Caïn, Chardonnay), and are produced only when the terroir’s character is at its peak. The 2009 vintage exhibits exemplary vibrant warmth and endless depth. Magnificent.

Cuvée 749, made from the 2021 vintage, retains a cool, almost Loire-like character that evokes white fruits—consistent with its slender structure.

A new chapter in the company’s history begins with the departure of brothers Laurent and Jean-Hervé Chiquet, who elevated this fine house to the highest echelons of the Champagne region. The Artémis Group has now taken the reins under the leadership of Jean Garandeau, but the teams remain unchanged: Yann Le Gall, cellar master, and Mathilde Perrier, vineyard manager, are still here to carry on the house’s spirit. The 700 cuvées account for the bulk of production. What a long way they’ve come since the release of the 728, from the 2000 vintage! Each year, the estate releases a late-disgorged cuvée; the first to be produced and released was the 733, based on the 2005 vintage. Only a few single-vineyard cuvées are produced, depending on the quality of the vintage.

A mineral wine with citrus notes, featuring lively aromas of cedar, pastries, lemon curd, chalk, linden blossom, dried oranges, and yogurt. Medium-bodied, with medium bubbles, a creamy texture, and lively acidity. The palate is clean and full-bodied, with very careful extraction and strawberry flavors. The finish is smooth and captivating. Very classic and taut. Ready to drink now or suitable for aging.

In the glass, it has a paler straw color than the 748 cuvée, and this cuvée offers more verticality, with refreshing citrus notes that come through fully. It has a lot of personality, while remaining fresh, compact, and briny, with aromas of strawberries and a slight hint of spice in the mousse. The acidity lends a chalky texture to its notes of orange and lemon zest, and to me, the Chardonnay dominates this cuvée, highlighting a concentrated structure and refreshing acidity. I think this wine has a lot of potential. Disgorged in August 2025, with a dosage of 2 grams per liter.