2012 Pierre Moncuit “Mesnil Sur Oger” Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Crafted exclusively from Chardonnay grown in the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger—home to some of Champagne’s most revered chalk soils—this vintage Blanc de Blancs highlights the crystalline purity and aging potential of Chardonnay from this terroir. Pierre Moncuit is a grower-producer (récoltant-manipulant) with deep family roots in the Côte des Blancs and a commitment to single-vintage, single-village expressions that speak clearly of place.

The 2012 vintage was exceptional: a cool spring followed by a warm, dry summer, producing wines of great concentration, balance, and longevity. Grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness, gently pressed, and vinified in stainless steel to preserve freshness. The wine was aged sur lattes for nearly a decade before disgorgement, allowing for integration and complexity without losing vibrancy. It is bottled with low dosage (Extra Brut or Brut depending on disgorgement), ensuring transparency of site.

On the palate, the wine is taut and linear, with classic Mesnil tension and a profile that evolves from citrus and green apple to toasted nuts, biscuit, and wet stone as it opens. The long lees aging adds texture and finesse without diminishing the wine’s electric core.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Pierre Moncuit is a family-run estate based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, at the heart of the Côte des Blancs. The domaine has been producing Champagne for over a century, with Nicole Moncuit and her brother Yves carrying on the legacy of meticulous vineyard work and vintage-specific bottlings. They focus exclusively on Chardonnay, primarily from Grand Cru holdings in Mesnil, where the chalk soils and cool climate yield wines of remarkable precision and elegance.

The house philosophy avoids blending across vintages—each cuvée reflects a single harvest, allowing vintage character to shine. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel to preserve purity, and extended lees aging in bottle lends depth and complexity. Dosage is always restrained, keeping the wines dry, mineral, and terroir-driven.

The 2012 Mesnil-sur-Oger is a classic of the house style: precise, expressive, and built to age. A Grand Cru Champagne that rivals more famous names for a fraction of the price, it is a must-try for lovers of serious Blanc de Blancs.