2017 Domaine Les Monts Fournois "Côte Mesnil Oger Grand Cru", Brut, Champagne, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is located south, southeast of Épernay. The vineyard areas cover 433.8 ha, of which the majority is planted in Chardonnay (432 ha) with very small plantings of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. This Grand Cru is located on the Côte des Blancs slope, consisting of mainly hillside vineyards. Champagnes produced from vineyards in Mesnil-sur-Oger are quite mineral driven and firm in style. They are “complete” expressions and certainly quite age-worthy. Le Mesnil-sur-Oger was promoted from Premier Cru to Grand Cru status in 1985 alongside Chouilly, Oiry, Oger, and Verzy.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Born in Champagne in a grower’s family, Juliette Alips rapidly found her passion. With the mentorship of her close cousins, Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche, she discovered and learned all the ins and outs of producing champagne, from farming to vinification, tasting, and blending.

Graduated from enology school in Beaune in 2020, Juliette already has a few vintages under her belt with acclaimed producers like Louis Latour in Bourgogne, G.D. Vajra in Piedmont, and closer to home, Louis Roederer Champagne where she spent more than a year learning from this iconic Maison.

Now, with the help of her two cousins, she is starting this new adventure with Domaine Les Monts Fournois. Located in the north part of the Montagne de Reims, in the sub-area called La Grande Montagne, the Premier Cru Les Monts Fournois will be the focus of the Domaine.

Until the first vintage releases in a few years, the Domaine is offering a very small selection of vintage Grand Cru Champagne. Using the extensive and strong family grower relationships developed by her cousins, Juliette is able to source tiny quantities of superb champagne from iconic vineyards to craft these exceptional wines.