NV Moutard Grand Cuvee Brut [Champagne] I’ve never had this vintner before, but it was at a merchant with a deep Champagne selection so I took their recommendation and tried it. It went well with beer battered shrimp in my new deep fat fryer! Light yellow, and to me, light bodied. Label says 12% abv, and disgorgement in Jan 2014. It also says the wine offers ‘almonds, and brioche’ which sound appealing, but my nose doesn’t pick them up. Instead I get some wet stones, and apples on the palate. Tight beading. Nice long 30 second finish, tails off and turns a touch tangy near the end. It was Valentines, so we had it in flutes, even if it would have been more expressive in white wine glasses. I’d grade a B+ and would buy it again. Don’t know anything about this producer – don’t see an RM or anything like that on the label, so maybe its a small negociant or something.
These are great times for those willing to venture beyond the widely available advertising driven grandes marques. Thanks to the whole supply chain working to get these to the end consumer.
I bought some of this recently from Last Bottle for about IICRC $20. Drank very well,a few preferring it to a Pierre Peters NV! I would get more if I see it for the right price.
Arv, I know something about these Champagnes and like them, having similar impressions as you. I met the maker recently:
NV Moutard Père et Fils Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée- France, Champagne, Côte des Bars (Aube), Champagne (5/19/2014) Dinner at Mike and Cathy’s place (Wellington, New Zealand): Colour pale yellow. Fine beaded mousse. A bouquet of stone fruit: peach, apricot and some pear. Also a yeasty autolysis element with some steely minerality. Fresh and focused in the mouth with good, vibrant acids. The flavours are of citrus and orchard stonefruit, with a bit of mealiness and brioche, finishing dry, on some minerality. Good mid palate fruit weight. Good value, but would benefit from greater complexity. I understand from M. Moutard this is 10 g/l dosage. (91 pts.) 2006 Moutard Père et Fils Champagne Brut Cuvée des 6 Cépages- France, Champagne (5/19/2014) Dinner at Mike and Cathy’s place (Wellington, New Zealand): Colour deep gold, a real contrast with the NV. Also, more persistent mousse than the NV. A contrast on bouquet too. A rich, mealy, complex nose showing some autolysis character with notes of yellow peach, nectarine and a savoury element. In the mouth, this Champagne is much more about structure than the first two, with good dry extract and power. Rich, complex and seemingly with some age (everyone was picking this as older, 2002 and or from the 1990s), but still focused with balanced acids. Flavours of pineapple, mandarins and marmalade, with a zesty, dry finish. Would be interesting to cellar. M. Moutard explained that the Champagne is unusual in using six of the permitted varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbanne. (92 pts.) Posted from CellarTracker
Moutard NV is a terrific value champagne, running just under $30 here. I’ve run into a little variability, with an occasional bottle seeming sweeter than the rest, but have never had a bottle I didn’t like. I haven’t had the rose, though, so will make a point to try that.
I thought it was alright, but not as good as several entry-level champagnes I’ve had in the past year. I noticed that my bottle was disgorged recently, so was wondering if some more time in bottle would help :
NV Moutard Père et Fils Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée- France, Champagne, Côte des Bars (Aube), Champagne (11/8/2014)
A pleasant entry-level champagne. Color is very pale yellow. Palate is light and effervescent. Could need some time, disgorged in 6/2014. (88 pts.)