First off, this producer has one of the coolest names ever. Guy Charlemagne!
Second off, this is sheer joy at 18 years of age! This has an incredibly tight, fine mousse, and had a nice mature “pop” at opening. Classic BdB nose. Tropical fruit, mangoes and brioche. Delicious flavors of orange, apricot and mango, but with enough acidity to keep this so fresh and lively. Great biscuit and graham cracker notes.
This is in a fascinating place. At just shy of two decades, it has slipped past stinging youth and all that acid, but it seems closer to youth than old age. There’s a bit of a honey-d, demi-sec Chenin note that comes and goes. Superb and subtle length.
Wow! 
Wow is right - no way I’d have been able to hold off as long as you did in opening that
Nice Jim.
I have never had any of the Charlemagne vintage champagnes only the NV.
This sounds wonderful. Thanks.
Jim,
Awesome note. I haven’t had the 96 in years or seen a bottle anywhere but the winery in a long time. In general, I find the Mesnillisime to be a very overlooked wine that drinks well young and ages very nicely too. A great expression of old vine Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and still very affordable. In fact, this seems to have actually stayed stable or decreased in price over the last decade. I need more of this wine.
We visited them a few years ago and they’re one of our favorite producers now. They were just wonderful people, too. I just wish they had distribution in Indiana.
JD
Yeah I doubled up after my case of 02 arrived. Nice wines and under the radar.
I think the cool part of the name is Mesnillesime.
Great champagne for the price - it’s just over 30 Euros at the winery. Their 2008 regular vintage is pretty good too.