Robert Moncuit Grand Cru - Millésime 2014 (Magnum)

The Moncuit family has a long history of farming some of the best vineyards in the Côte des Blancs. They began purchasing land in 1889 and by 1928 were bottling at the domaine. The estate has 8 hectares planted in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and 2 hectares in Oger. All the wines assume optimum maturity, through fermentation in barrels (350 liters), systematic malolactic fermentation, aging of three years for the brut and five years for the vintages, aged for their part under cork.

The current winemaker, Pierre Amillet, is the fourth generation to lead the winery. If you spend any time with him you quickly realize he is obsessed with Chardonnay grown in the chalky terroirs of Le Mesnil. 

The estate consists of 8 hectares of vines in the Le Mesnil-sur-Oger region of the Côte des Blancs, all of which are farmed without the use of pesticides or herbicides. Fruit is all hand harvested and hand sorted, and each parcel of vines is vinified separately to optimize the outcome of the blending.

Nearly all the wines are fermented and raised in a combination of tank and oak, ultimately the goal is extended contact with the lees and to preserve the precision and minerality that Mesnil is capable of. Pierre likes to use both 228L and 350L barrels and prefers the wines to age slowly; once in barrel the wine sits undisturbed on the lees until early summer. All wines go through full malolactic naturally.

The Millesime is made from all of the domaine’s oldest Chardonnay vines from Mesnil, excluding the Chetillons parcels. Fermented and raised in a combination of tank and oak, ultimately the goal is extended contact with the lees and to preserve the precision and minerality that Mesnil is capable of.  Layered, textured, biscuity and dry finished marked by intensity and length. Usually around 3g/L dosage and 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay.

Producer: Robert Moncuit

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru

Vintage: 2014

Size: 1.5L