Wine Enthusiast 95
From grand cru Chardonnay vineyards, this beautifully mature wine is ready to drink. Still with its mineral edge, the Champagne is textured. But it is the ripeness, the brioche flavors and touch of maturity that gives this wine its perfect poise. Drink now.
The winery has 15 hectares: 20 plots of cultivation area in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and another 5 hectares in Sézanne. The wines of both growing areas are always grown separately. The Sézanne grapes are used to make the Hugues de Coulmet cuvée, while the Mesnil grapes are the basis for the other cuvée of the house. Nicole Moncuit produces each wine from just one vintage - without using reserve wines. This is how typicality and terroir are most clearly worked out, they are convinced. For the same reason, fermentation takes place exclusively in stainless steel tanks.
Malolactic fermentation is carried out because of the high acidity typical of Le Mesnil. The result is such precise wines that are not sober. Even in warm vintages, when distinct notes of aging often come to the fore, the wines are never overripe or unbalanced. The wines are harmonious, expressive and fine, with a pronounced chalkiness: They represent the focused and straightforward character of Le Mesnil sur Oger. 2018 began with sustainable viticulture according to the HVE standard (High Environmental Value) and would like to be certified in 2019. For a long time, efforts have been made to use fewer and fewer chemicals in the vineyard and have invested in tillage equipment.
