Champagne Les Freres Mignons - Terroir de Cumieres Premier Cru 2018

The Blanc de Blancs made by the brothers Florent and Julien after they left the local cooperative are a result of working the vineyards largely without chemicals. 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. The Cumières hillsides in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ are the historic and symbolic birthplace of Champagne and the Mignon brothers have now captured the historic symbol of the region in their cuvee of the vineyard.

The 2017 Extra Brut Cumières Premier Cru is made chiefly from Pinot Noir, followed by Meunier and Chardonnay. The base wines spent two years on lees before being bottled in 2019. The golden wine shines with notes of salted butter melted on hot rye sourdough toast. This salty, savoury theme continues on the palate where creaminess is accentuated by really fine, smooth mousse. Fruit appears in the form of ripe, smooth Golden Delicious apple flesh, resulting in a very rounded and gastronomic wine that is generous but toned and lip-smackingly fresh. Anne Krebiehl, Vinous. 2017 review.