Robert Moncuit, 'Les Chetillons' Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne, France, 2015

Overview of the Wine
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. For five generations the family-run Moncuit estate has been farming grapes for the production of wine in Champagne in Les Mesnil-sur-Oger beginning with Alex Moncuit in 1889. In 1928 Robert Moncuit, Alex’s grandson, created the first cuvée and estate bottled champagne. In 1987 Robert’s daughter Francoise took over the estate after the passing of her father, she passed the reins onto her son Pierre Amillet in 2000, Pierre remains at the helm today.

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.

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.

Grape / Blend
Chardonnay

Origin
Champagne, France

Tasting Notes 
The first vintage of Chetillons produced by Champagne Robert Moncuit was from the 2008 vintage. Les Chetillons, made famous by Champagne Pierre Peters, is a vineyard we have long admired. It encapsulates the heights that Chardonnay can reach in the Côte des Blancs. Robert Moncuit's Les Chetillons comes from a two hectare parcel planted in 1956 in the village of Mesnil.

It is fermented in tonneaux and left in barrel until the April after harvest. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. It is bottled the July after harvest and is aged on cork before being disgorged. The wine is not chaptalized or filtered and is zero dosage.

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Champagne Grand Cru Les Chetillons Extra Brut has more tension and focus despite the warmth that was brought by the 2015 vintage. Youthful and fresh, the nose is tense with energy of lime zest, chalk, and green apple that will take time to open. The palate is dry and focused, with more concentration of fresh citrus of lemon, fantastic, pure, chalky texture, and a firm backbone of acidity. There is a hint of phenolic texture on the finish and the structure to age for two to three decades. Drink 2025-2045.

Product size: 750ml