From: Champagne, France
Blend: (2018 harvest) Pinot Meunier (50%), Pinot Noir (40%), Chardonnay (10%)
Taste & Critical Acclaim: This entry-level stunner features a Meunier-dominant blend to highlight the power and finesse of the domaine’s leading grape, the underappreciated Pinot Meunier. This cuvée is the platonic ideal of growers’ champagne - one that seamlessly weaves the minerality in the soils with the delicate aromas of grapes from a blend of 30 parcels within Vrigny. A true reflection of the Vrigny terroir. Perfectly in sync, oxidative and mineral with notes of wild honey, hazelnut and peach.
Lelarge-Pugeot is an eighth-generation winery in the Premier Cru village of Vrigny on the rolling slopes of the Montagne de Reims (about 15 minutes west of Reims). It is a real family operation, helmed by the two parents, Dominique and Dominique, and supported by their kids.
Decanter, "Based in the premier cru village of Vrigny, seventh-generation Dominique Lelarge and his family run their certified organic 8ha estate following biodynamic principles. This wine is fermented in stainless steel and matured in bottle for four years. The aroma is doughy, with some brioche notes coming through too. In the mouth, the richness is cut by a razor-sharp acidity, accentuated by the lack of residual sugar (just 5g/l). It's persistent in both flavor and gum-tingling acids, with the apple, bread and spice flavors kept in check."
Pairing: This delicious champagne pairs with a wide range of wines. Some of our favorites include enjoying this alongside roasted chicken with confit shallots and mushrooms, dishes centered around ham, whether it be glazed, roasted, or smoked, baked/roasted/gratin vegetables, tuna rillettes, fritters, gougeres, white fish like halibut, cod or sea bass (check out the recipe below), fried chicken and even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (go with the strawberry jam and crunchy peanut butter).
Roasted Halibut With Cumin, Lemon and Bay
By David Tanis
About. Many thanks to importer Super Glou for the following! “Lelarge-Pugeot is an eighth-generation winery in the Premier Cru village of Vrigny on the rolling slopes of the Montagne de Reims (about 15 minutes west of Reims). It is a real family operation, helmed by the two parents, Dominique and Dominique, and supported by their kids, one of whom is our good friend Clémence.
The family’s 8.7 hectares of vineyards, which are planted mostly with Pinot Meunier, face northward, offering some protection from the effects of global wiwarming, though Clémence is quick to note that they can now make red wines for the first time in the history of Champagne. The domaine, which has been certified organic since 2014 and Demeter-certified biodynamic since 2017, is comprised of 42 distinct parcels where Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay are grown at elevations of 400 ft.
The wines of Lelarge-Pugeot are bright and full of pizzazz, and the family is producing some electric juice—including Nature et Non Dosé, their no sulfur/no dosage cuvée. Truly remarkable fizz all around; Prince Charles would agree.”
