Jacquesson’s numbered cuvées always conceal a very interesting story behind the three digits that typically make up the Dizy-based maison’s magic code.

Starting with No. 1 dating back to 1898, continuing with the 728, dating back to the year Jean-Hervé and Laurent Chiquet took over the reins of the winery, and then arriving at the latest born, the 744, it is a succession of oenological masterpieces that have (re)brought this historic Champagne winery to its well-deserved blazon.

Produced from estate-grown grapes or, to a small extent, cultivated by the trained hands of winegrowers who have fully espoused the Jacquesson philosophy, the Cuvée elegantly blends grapes primarily related to the 2016 vintage from the best plots among the Aÿ, Dizy Hautvillers, Avize and Oiry vineyards into a 0.75 g/l Extra Brut.

Famous for its triple-digit cuvées, the classic version assembles wines from part of the same vintage along with “vins de reserve,” stored by Jacquesson for several years and only for the chef de cave traceable to the final percentages that will bring the triple-digit cuvée, in this case 744, to life.

A cuvée that strongly reflects the weather pattern of the 2016 vintage, characterized by a rainy winter with major temperature swings that led to frosts between February and April, introducing a cool spring only starting in May and then a very hot and dry summer. The harvest, which began on Sept. 19 and ended on Oct. 6, resulted in ripe and phytosanitary-perfect grapes, with a quality aromatic complement, especially in the case of Pinot Noir.

The end result is an elegant champagne in its straw-yellow guise with golden highlights and a numerous perlage that is almost hypnotic in its consistency and persistence. Complexity emerges immediately on the nose, where hints of citrus, candied and dried fruit, yeast and baked goods emerge clearly along with a fresh iodine note, while freshness and minerality emerge on the palate balanced well by good smoothness in the near absence of sugar.

Another great performance by the Maison of Dizy, which never ceases to accustom us to oenological masterpieces from which it is a pleasure to be seduced.