Clandestin is the creation of Benoit Doussot, one of the next generation of producers exploring the potential of site-specific Champagne. Unlike many grower-producers who inherited family land, Benoit studied winemaking in Beaune and had no family holdings. In 2015, he began working with small growers who had converted to organics but struggled to find larger houses willing to pay the slightly higher prices needed to support those farming methods. Boréal, made from 100% Pinot Noir, comes from a plot rich in clay and Kimmeridgian limestone. Fermentation relies solely on indigenous yeast, followed by a year of aging in large French oak and another 15 months in bottle. In the glass it’s mineral-driven, with vivid notes of red apple skin, wild berries, citrus peel, and crushed stone. A year in large oak adds subtle depth, while the long, saline finish makes it both elegant and powerful.