Champagne Les Freres Mignons - L'Aventure Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs NV

On the nose L'Aventure is elegant with notes of flowers and pastries. On the palate it is mineral and fresh, with body and a toasted background.

The Champagne L'Aventure by Les Freres Mignon is the result of the blending of Chardonnay from the 3 different plots: Avize and Cramant (Grand Crus), Cuis (Premier Cru), all old vines of about 50 years of age in Côte de Blancs. This is the first production for this Blanc de Blancs made by the brothers Florent and Julien. The estate is divided as 90% planted in Chardonnay in the villages of Avize, Cramant and Cuis, the remaining 10% Pinot Noir in Cumières. Extreme sensitivity and attention are reserved for the management of the vineyard.

On the nose it is elegant with notes of flowers and pastries. On the palate it is mineral and fresh, with body and a toasted background. At first it is acidic, with hints of green apple drifting into almonds. Complex and very fine. Spicy finish. Fine and persistent bubbles. In its freshness, The Champagne L'Aventure fully transmits its territory and its grapes: ripe white and yellow fruit, citrus, candied fruit. In the mouth the bubbles are creamy, with a well present minerality and a finish of intense pleasure. Drink now or cellar for 5-10 years. 100% Chardonnay.

The 2017 Extra Brut Cuis Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru was harvested in a south-facing parcel of Chardonnay planted in 1974, the golden wine shows salty notes of dried corn husk and creamy polenta with the merest edge of blossom honey. More air lends overtones of apple blossom and lemon. The palate seems to seep its lemony brightness and apple fruitiness into that polenta depth to arrive at chalky saltiness. This is beautifully rounded but taut and finely contoured. A really elegant, salty wine that comes across as understatement in the glass. 93 points, Anne Krebiehl, Vinous.