Minière F&R 'Les Moineaux' Blanc de Blancs Brut, Hermonville, Champagne, France 2017
Champagne Minière F&R represents a remarkable story of revival and perfectionism from the village of Hermonville in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, the northernmost reaches of the Montagne de Reims. Founded in 1919 by Alfred Minière, the estate spent generations selling fruit to major Champagne houses before brothers Frédéric and Rodolphe Minière—the fourth generation—made the bold decision in 2005 to begin estate bottling. Frédéric's formative experience working two harvests with the legendary Anselme Selosse in the late 1990s profoundly shaped his philosophy toward Champagne production, instilling a passion for barrel-aged wines and organic viticulture. Today, the brothers manage nearly 8 hectares of vines but deliberately limit production to just 2 hectares from their oldest and finest parcels, with an average vine age of 45 years. Their approach is uncompromising: every wine is vinified entirely in oak barrels, blocked from malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness and tension, and aged extensively sur lie—an average of six to eight years before release. They didn't bottle their first vintage until 2014, a testament to their commitment to only releasing wines when perfectly ready. The result is a collection of oxidative, barrel-influenced Champagnes of exceptional depth and mineral precision that have earned praise from critics as "sublime grower Champagnes" and helped put the tiny village of Hermonville firmly on the map.
- WINEMAKER: Frédéric and Rodolphe Minière
- FARMING: Sustainable viticulture with organic principles, emphasizing biodiversity preservation and environmentally friendly practices
- VARIETY: 100% Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs)
- TERROIR: Les Moineaux is a single lieu-dit vineyard located on a south-facing site with a mild slope at the northern edge of Hermonville, bordering Cauroy-lès-Hermonville and adjacent to the Voirmissa vineyard. The Minière family owns two small parcels in this site, both planted by their grandfather using sélection massale—one in 1963 (0.1 hectare) and another in 1972 (0.25 hectare)—making the vines over 40-50 years old for this 2017 vintage. The soils are composed of silt and clay, markedly different from the chalk-dominated terroirs elsewhere in Champagne. Hermonville's unique geology features sandy-loam soils in the upper hills with limestone underneath, while lower areas contain loam, clay, and sand. These well-draining, mineral-rich but nutrient-poor soils force vine roots to dig deep, yielding wines of exceptional density and mineral expression. The south to southeast exposure creates an amphitheater effect, providing ideal sun exposure and contributing to the site's expressive character.
- VINIFICATION: Whole-cluster pressed, with fermentation conducted entirely in French oak fûts (barrels). The wine spends 6-8 months sur lie in barrel with bâtonnage (lees stirring) adjusted to the vintage conditions. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve natural acidity, freshness, and tension—a hallmark of the Minière style. Following barrel élevage, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle according to méthode traditionnelle.
- AGING: Extended aging of approximately 5 years sur lie in bottle before disgorgement. Final dosage of 2.2 grams per liter (Extra Brut). Post-disgorgement rest of at least 9 months before release—an essential step for no-malo wines to allow components to integrate and harmonize.
- TASTING NOTES: Brilliant golden-yellow with fine persistent bubbles. The nose reveals smoky, crème anglaise-inflected aromatics alongside citrus zest, white flowers, toasted almonds, and subtle tropical notes. A gently oxidative character speaks to barrel aging without overwhelming freshness. The palate shows cream-textured richness with sweet citrus fruit, green apple, white peach, and mineral chalk, yet retains impressive energy and tension. Masterful oak integration adds structure without dominating. The finish is long, precise, and mineral-driven with lingering salinity and crushed stone.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: This gastronomic Champagne demands substantial pairings: lobster thermidor, butter-poached turbot, seared scallops with brown butter, roasted chicken with morels and cream, or aged Comté. The oxidative character and barrel influence pair beautifully with sweetbreads, rich seafood preparations, and aged hard cheeses. Excellent with oysters where mineral backbone and salinity shine.
Minière F&R 'Les Moineaux' Blanc de Blancs Brut, Hermonville, Champagne, France 2017
Champagne Minière F&R represents a remarkable story of revival and perfectionism from the village of Hermonville in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, the northernmost reaches of the Montagne de Reims. Founded in 1919 by Alfred Minière, the estate spent generations selling fruit to major Champagne houses before brothers Frédéric and Rodolphe Minière—the fourth generation—made the bold decision in 2005 to begin estate bottling. Frédéric's formative experience working two harvests with the legendary Anselme Selosse in the late 1990s profoundly shaped his philosophy toward Champagne production, instilling a passion for barrel-aged wines and organic viticulture. Today, the brothers manage nearly 8 hectares of vines but deliberately limit production to just 2 hectares from their oldest and finest parcels, with an average vine age of 45 years. Their approach is uncompromising: every wine is vinified entirely in oak barrels, blocked from malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness and tension, and aged extensively sur lie—an average of six to eight years before release. They didn't bottle their first vintage until 2014, a testament to their commitment to only releasing wines when perfectly ready. The result is a collection of oxidative, barrel-influenced Champagnes of exceptional depth and mineral precision that have earned praise from critics as "sublime grower Champagnes" and helped put the tiny village of Hermonville firmly on the map.
- WINEMAKER: Frédéric and Rodolphe Minière
- FARMING: Sustainable viticulture with organic principles, emphasizing biodiversity preservation and environmentally friendly practices
- VARIETY: 100% Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs)
- TERROIR: Les Moineaux is a single lieu-dit vineyard located on a south-facing site with a mild slope at the northern edge of Hermonville, bordering Cauroy-lès-Hermonville and adjacent to the Voirmissa vineyard. The Minière family owns two small parcels in this site, both planted by their grandfather using sélection massale—one in 1963 (0.1 hectare) and another in 1972 (0.25 hectare)—making the vines over 40-50 years old for this 2017 vintage. The soils are composed of silt and clay, markedly different from the chalk-dominated terroirs elsewhere in Champagne. Hermonville's unique geology features sandy-loam soils in the upper hills with limestone underneath, while lower areas contain loam, clay, and sand. These well-draining, mineral-rich but nutrient-poor soils force vine roots to dig deep, yielding wines of exceptional density and mineral expression. The south to southeast exposure creates an amphitheater effect, providing ideal sun exposure and contributing to the site's expressive character.
- VINIFICATION: Whole-cluster pressed, with fermentation conducted entirely in French oak fûts (barrels). The wine spends 6-8 months sur lie in barrel with bâtonnage (lees stirring) adjusted to the vintage conditions. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve natural acidity, freshness, and tension—a hallmark of the Minière style. Following barrel élevage, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle according to méthode traditionnelle.
- AGING: Extended aging of approximately 5 years sur lie in bottle before disgorgement. Final dosage of 2.2 grams per liter (Extra Brut). Post-disgorgement rest of at least 9 months before release—an essential step for no-malo wines to allow components to integrate and harmonize.
- TASTING NOTES: Brilliant golden-yellow with fine persistent bubbles. The nose reveals smoky, crème anglaise-inflected aromatics alongside citrus zest, white flowers, toasted almonds, and subtle tropical notes. A gently oxidative character speaks to barrel aging without overwhelming freshness. The palate shows cream-textured richness with sweet citrus fruit, green apple, white peach, and mineral chalk, yet retains impressive energy and tension. Masterful oak integration adds structure without dominating. The finish is long, precise, and mineral-driven with lingering salinity and crushed stone.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: This gastronomic Champagne demands substantial pairings: lobster thermidor, butter-poached turbot, seared scallops with brown butter, roasted chicken with morels and cream, or aged Comté. The oxidative character and barrel influence pair beautifully with sweetbreads, rich seafood preparations, and aged hard cheeses. Excellent with oysters where mineral backbone and salinity shine.