Why it matters
The producer
An 1879 stone house in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is home to Maison Les Cinq Filles. Yvonne Seier Christensen studied Viticulture and Oenology at Plumpton College in the UK, founded Champagne YSC in 2017 through Maison Les Cinq Filles, and holds the Comité Champagne designation Négociant Manipulant.
The house works through two names. Maison Les Cinq Filles carries the Le Mesnil-sur-Oger address, while Skagen presents sparkling wines including Skagen Brut and Skagen Rosé Extra Brut.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The Côte des Blancs is a Champagne slope named for the colour of Chardonnay grapes. Maison Les Cinq Filles operates a vineyard in Avize, one of four Champagne villages on that slope.
Avize places Chardonnay at the centre of the house's vineyard geography. The bottles extend that geography into the Skagen range, where Brut and Rosé Extra Brut take different paths through fruit, acidity and dosage.
Wines to know
The range in view
Skagen Brut shows yellow fruit, white flowers, apples and lemon zest. Its acidity is direct but balanced, and the wine suits aperitif service and light dishes such as delicate white fish.
Skagen Rosé Extra Brut brings extra dry vitality to pairings with red berry desserts and summer fruits. It also works with seafood, including lobster and crab.