I would like to create a thread/list of recommended Champagnes that originate from a single vineyard. They do not need to be labelled as single vineyard Champagnes as long as the practice is to produce them from a single source.
Thanks in advance!
Cedric Bouchard’s wines are mostly if not all single vineyard and very good if not great.
Of course Krug Mesnil, but I can’t afford it. Although interestingly with that one, although it’s a single vineyard wine, I believe it comes from multiple growers.
And I’m really with you on the Goisses. The Rare Wine Co.'s holiday card this year was a photo of people working that vineyard circa 1900, such an interesting photo.
Robert,
I believe that Salon is somewhat similar. Salon owns Jardin de Salon and all the fruit originates from Mesnil sur Oger but there are multiple growers in the commune.
Krug owns Clos du Mesnil; they are the sole owner. Before them, it was entirely owned by the Tarin family and the grapes went to Salon and others (including the wines of Julien Tarin), but there was still only one owner. Krug kind of lucked into the vineyard as it was very beaten down and a throw in on a purchase Krug made that was targeted to other Tarin holdings.
Salon comes from a variety of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger vineyards with the majority being non-estate.
I love Clos du Mesnil, but I think the Les Chetillons vineyard is a better site.
Tarlant La Vigne d’Antan
Clos Cazals
Peters Cuvee Speciale/Les Chetillons
Is Boulard’s Les Rachais a single vineyard? I’d thought so.
I haven’t had the greatest of experiences with Cattier Clos du Moulin myself, but it probably deserves to be mentioned in any discussion of single vineyard Champagne.
Foremost, the land location is better. Clos du Mesnil is in the middle of the village. It has protection with its walls and also all the buildings around it, but it is hard to see it as a true top spot for Le Mesnil-sur-Oger vineyards. Based on where it is, I would say that it outperforms expectations and Krug deserves a lot of credit for that.
Historically, it really wasn’t ever regarded as the best of the best in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. People knew of it and it had some recognition, but not to the level of other sites in the village. Even today, when you talk to different winemakers and grape growers, they have a lot of respect for Clos du Mesnil, but not to the level that you might expect. Les Chetillons has been regarded as one of the top sites for a long time (if not the top site).
I also add in the fact that Krug is really the only producer to truly have consistent success from Clos du Mesnil. Some of this could be the fact that the Tarin family didn’t understand how to best take care of it, but if you look at Les Chetillons, numerous producers have farmed grapes, bought grapes, and made great wines from the vineyard. I see Clos du Mesnil as a product of Krug’s hard work and dedication more than anything else (I also view Clos d’Ambonnay in this way).
I love Clos du Mesnil and I have had some fabulous wines from it, but I actually think I often swoon a bit more when I taste an older Les Chetillons, Taittinger’s Comtes (which has a good amount of Les Chetillons in it and the wine really shows it with time), or a Guy Charlemagne Mesnillesime (which is normally around 1/2 Les Chetillons).
I haven’t tasted the '99 but have heard good things (though other '99 Champagnes are a bit richer than I prefer). I can vouch for the '95 and '96. Both are great.
Brad,
Thanks for this information. I didn’t realize that Les Chetillons was a single vineyard Champagne but thought the '02 was one of the best Champagnes I tasted this year. That’s just another example of how much more I am attracted to single vineyard expression. I have trouble staying interested in blends which prompted this thread.
Keith,
What is your impression of these? The Clos Cazals seems like it should be great given the location. The Vigne d’Antan sounds very interesting as well.