NV Cheurlin Champagne Brut Spéciale, Aube, Champagne, France

Pistons Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas dribbles into the Champagne court with partnership in Cheurlin Champagne House.

Sunglow color with amber highlights. Aromas of green apple and light mineral on the nose. Delicate and appealing spirited flavor of lemon peel, medium bodies, with a refreshing, crisp and flavorful finish. Cheurlin Brut Spéciale is the flagship of its collection and a justifiably renowned champagne. Finely balanced, extended aging, and a remarkably low dosage ultimately produced a noble brut as a blend of only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Known for his business savvy and philanthropic endeavors as much as his storied athletic career, Isiah and his wife Lynn wanted a healthier, great tasting champagne without the added sugar. Isiah is quick to point out, “it had to be reasonably priced and it definitely couldn’t come with a headache the next day. It took years but that’s exactly what we found in Cheurlin Champagne.”

In France, Thomas Cheurlin dreamed of taking his family’s champagne to the U.S., where he would introduce American consumers to “grower champagnes,” environmentally-friendly champagne production, and the superior taste harvested from Cheurlin grapes. 

The recent partnership between Isiah Thomas and Thomas Cheurlin may seem unlikely, but when you see these two men together, you find great similarities. Both men share a devotion to honesty and hard work, a commitment to excellence and collaboration, a passion for giving back, and a love of great champagne. After forming their alliance, ISIAH Imports was born and Cheurlin Champagnes was introduced to the United States.

The Cheurlin family uses only three grape varieties in all their products; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc, the latter, amounts to less than .5% of plantings in all of the Champagne region. They grow their grapes in the region of “Aube.”