2011 J.L. Vergnon MSNL "Chétillons & Mussettes" Grand Cru Extra-Brut, Champagne, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

• Practicing organic
• 100% Chardonnay
• From two lieux-dits in Les Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru
• 70% Les Chétillons, 30% Mussettes (borders Chétillons to the south)
• 50 year old vines
• Fermented and aged in stainless steel
• No malo
• Aged 84 months on the lees
• 3 g/L dosage

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

In the heart of the Grand cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Didier Vergnon and his son Clément are the 4th and 5th generations to lead this small 5 hectare estate. Originally founded in 1950, it was in the 1980’s that Jean-Louis Vergnon first began producing estate-bottled wine from some choice sites in the Côte des Blancs, including multiple parcels in and next to the legendary Les Chétillons. Over the last 20 years the family has pushed the farming to practicing organic, harvesting only balanced and ripe grapes, to produce authentic and pure Champagne. The result is that Vergnon has eliminated chaptalization and malolactic fermentation, uses a low or zero dosage depending on the wine and are harvesting some of the finest chardonnay in the region. For much of this journey they had the brilliant winemaker Christophe Constant at their side as cellar master or today as consultant. The results today are a remarkable lineup, that expresses the classic virile qualities of Le Mesnil with vinousity and transparency that has made this Grand Cru village so revered around the world.