Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, the crown jewel of the Côte des Blancs, is a village that is entirely classified as Grand Cru and offers some of the most distinct expressions of terroir in the entire region. The chalky slopes are cultivated almost exclusively with Chardonnay and are home to some of the most famous Blanc de Blancs Champagne in the world including Krug’s “Clos du Mesnil,” and Salon’s “Le Mesnil.”

Amidst the set of legendary Champagne houses this small family-run estate has been crafting exquisite wines of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for over 125 years. Since 1889, Champagne Robert Moncuit has served as a family-run Récoltant-Manipulant (grower-producer) for five generations with some of the most famous Champagne estates as neighbors. The historic family estate and reputation was transferred into the capable hands of Robert Moncuit’s grandson, Pierre, in 2000. As this new generation was ushered in, Champagne Robert Moncuit was finally made available outside of France for the first time. Since then this closely guarded family operation, and delicious French secret, has garnered ample praise and only gained in popularity in the U.S. and abroad.  

Pierre farms the estate’s eight hectares in the premium Le Mesnil-sur-Oger soil without the use of chemical herbicides and pesticides, defying the norm in Champagne, which allows the vines to come to life. All fruit is hand-harvested and sorted then each parcel is vinified separately. The wines are fermented, allowed to go through malolactic naturally and are aged sur lie in tank instead of oak; Pierre actually avoids oak in an effort to allow the magnificent minerality of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger to fully express itself. The resulting wine is a blissful marriage of luscious creaminess and opulent fruit wed with signature minerality and bright acidity. This Champagne is as perfect as one could wish for when selecting a bottle.

This wine has a saturated golden yellow core that moves to green and gold reflections on the rim and exhibits very fine, persistent beading in the glass. The intensely focused, creamy nose boasts aromas of dried pineapple, yellow apple, preserved lemon infused with white flowers, freshly baked biscuits, spun honey, lees and a hint of chalk. The expansive palate fills every corner of the mouth and uplifts the dried yellow fruits from the nose with notes of rising bread dough, lees and distinctly chalky minerality. The seriously focused acidity and signature minerality keeps this beautifully opulent and lush Champagne in perfect harmony. It is everything we yearn for in a Mesnil-sur-Oger and it is drinking well above its price. Serve this wine at 50-55 degrees in all-purpose stems to allow the full complexity to express itself. Cheers!