Pinot Meunier has always played "third fiddle" to Champagne's power couple, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Growers always liked having it around because it buds later than PN and Chard, which means it's less likely to be damaged by the late frosts that can hit Champagne so far north--especially in the Marne Valley. For growers it meant diversification.
For drinkers, on the other hand, it was an unglamorous variety that often came across as rustic or rough-edged. But that perception has been changing. Culty producers like Jerome Prevost and Raphael Bereche make highly sought-after Meunier-based wines. And even below the superstar level there's a whole generation of small growers who have started putting out really delicious Meunier-focused champagnes that don't break the bank.
Cedric Moussé is a classic example. When he took over the family estate in 2003 he was the 12th generation to run things. He practices organic farming and makes wines that are precise, savory, and bright-fruited, with no oak influence. They show Meunier's pretty side: purity of fruit, white flowers, subtle herbal tones, and they show its terroir transparency, with clear mineral signatures.
What importer Skurnik Wines has to say about this wine...
cépage 92% Meunier, 8% Pinot Noir (12% vin rouge
of Meunier)
assemblage 50% 2018 – 50% 2003-2017
village/vyd Cuisles, Jonquery, Châtillon-sur-Marne
malo Yes
élevage Stainless steel
sur latte 24 Months
Details
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Grape Variety
Pinot Meunier , Pinot Noir
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Vintage
NV
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Size
750ml
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Farming Practice
Organic
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Style
Elegant , Fruity , Minerally
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Sweetness
Champagne Brut , Dry
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Body
Light Bodied