Champagne Monmarthe Privilège Brut Premier Cru NV

The Monmarthe family has been in Ludes since 1737, the charming Champagne village set amongst the rolling hills of the northern edge of the Montagne de Reims, just a stone’s throw from the village of Chigny-les-Roses. The Champagne house was founded in 1930 by Ernest Monmarthe, and the family has farmed this plot in Ludes ever since, fine-tuning their production and quality over the past six generations. Now, with Gauthier Monmarthe taking the lead on winemaking – this estate is beginning to draw attention here in the USA as a top-notch grower-producer with a bright future!

We discovered the wines of Champagne Monmarthe at Paris’ VinExpo a few seasons back, and a visit to the winery made us love these incredible wines even more. Gauthier Monmarthe, the seventh-generation vigneron, led us through their cellar, and we wrapped up in their salon tasting through their entire portfolio. His mom, Sandrine, made a delightful snack of fresh out of the oven gougeres, and it remains one of my favorite Champagne experiences ever since!

This 94-point cuvée is named “Privilège” for the elegance and refinement the bottle exudes, which can only be described as a privilege to partake in. The blend is half Pinot Noir and half Chardonnay from Premier Cru parcels over a span of three growing seasons, plus 30% reserve wine to bring in added character and roundness. After no malolactic fermentation, three years on the lees, and a final Brut dosage, the result is something ultra-fresh, persistently intense, and ample, with a humming and lengthy finish.

This is a sparkling wine that is boisterously layered and complex, with a vibrant and full mousse that incites aromas of quince flesh and honeycomb, with flavors that follow in sensuous waves – Meyer lemon, Rainier cherries, ripe peaches, baked apples, creamy red D’Anjou pears, and nutty toasted hazelnuts, all framed with a bright and tingly acidity carrying everything to a long and electric finish. The wine’s medium weight is all from the time on lees, making this something exceptionally age-worthy for those so inclined. Whatever your plans for the wine, you simply can’t go wrong… this absolutely delivers, especially at such an insanely reasonable price!