Charles/Robert Dufour, “Ballad of the Villages” 2004

Before Charles Dufour fully took the reins, there was Robert Dufour—a Champagne made in tandem with his father, a bridge between past and future. The name stuck, even as Charles carved out his own path, and what remains is a singular snapshot: a 100% 2004 vintage Champagne, quietly aging away in the family cellar for nearly two decades, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

Sourced from four villages—Landreville, Chervey, Neuville, and Celles-sur-Ource—this is 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Blanc, fermented and aged in stainless steel before tirage in May 2005. And then? Nothing. For 17 years, it sat undisturbed on its lees, tucked into the cool quiet of Rue de la Croix Malot, never meant for release. That is, until 2022, when Charles and team disgorged 3,000 bottles purely for the fun of it.

The result? A Champagne frozen in time, first in, first out, with two decades of patience written into every sip.