The Charlemagne family has been a fixture in the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger since 1892, quietly cultivating some of the most profound Chardonnay in all of Champagne. While the big houses have turned Le Mesnil into a global brand, the Charlemagnes have remained fiercely independent, bottling their own estate-grown fruit for five generations. Current proprietor Philippe Charlemagne is the steward of this legacy, farming 15 hectares of pristine, chalk-laden vineyards. His philosophy is simple: let the terroir speak. This means meticulous vineyard work, minimal intervention in the cellar, and a deep respect for the family traditions that have made them one of the most respected grower-producers in the Côte des Blancs.
The "Les Coulmets" vineyard is the family's secret weapon. A single parcel of old vines located on a gentle slope just south of the village, it sits directly next to the world-famous "Les Chetillons" vineyard. Les Coulmets shares the same intensely pure chalk soils and delivers a Champagne with the same power, elegance, and mineral-driven intensity as its more famous neighbor, but without the astronomical price tag. This is the essence of insider Champagne: a wine from a Grand Cru site that the big houses would love to own, but that has remained in the same family's hands for over a century. Philippe bottles it as a single-vineyard expression, a rare practice that showcases the unique voice of this exceptional site.
For the 2016 "Les Coulmets," Philippe's winemaking was precise and transparent. After a hand-harvest, the grapes were fermented in stainless steel to preserve the pristine fruit and intense minerality. The wine then spent more than six years aging on its lees in the family's deep, cold chalk cellars, developing layers of complexity and a fine, creamy texture. To honor the purity of the fruit and the 2016 vintage—a year known for its balance and freshness—he finished it as an Extra Brut, with a minimal dosage of just 5 grams per liter. The result is a profound, multi-layered Champagne that captures the soul of Le Mesnil: crushed chalk, oyster shell, and candied citrus, all wrapped in a vibrant, energetic frame.
Why You'll Love It
•Insider's Terroir. You're getting Grand Cru Champagne from a single vineyard that sits next to one of Le Mesnil's most famous sites, but at a fraction of the price.
•Generational Expertise. This is the work of a fifth-generation winemaker who has dedicated his life to perfecting Chardonnay from his family's historic vineyards.
•Purity and Complexity. The Extra Brut style and long lees aging deliver a Champagne that is breathtakingly pure with intense minerality and complexity.
How to Serve It
•Serve chilled at 46–50°F in a tulip-shaped glass or in all purpose white wine glass to allow the complex aromatics to open up.
Immensely enjoyable as an aperitif but pairs beautifully with sushi, oysters, or roasted chicken.
