Premier Cru [pronunciation: pri-mir croo]
In Champagne, where classifications have been designated by village and not by vineyard, this refers to a village that would have been rated between 90 and 99 percent on the now non-existant échelle des crus, and would have thusly received between 90 and 99 percent of the fixed price for grapes in that harvest.
There are 43 Premier Cru villages in Champagne, all of which are located in the Marne Département. These include two villages, Chouilly and Tours-sur-Marne, that are rated as Grand Cru for only one variety each (Chouilly for chardonnay and Tours-sur-Marne for pinot noir).
See also: Grand Cru
Shop Today’s Bubbles