Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are easily two of the most famous grape varietals in the world so it makes sense that they overshadow Pinot Meunier in Champagne. However, Meunier has played a major role in many of Champagne’s most compelling wines and its prominence continues to grow as more and more grower-producers explore and champion its potential. Grown primarily in the Vallée de la Marne, Pinot Meunier can be crafted to create wines with generous fruit, crisp acidity, and palpable tension.

The Moussé family has been growing Pinot Meunier in the village of Cuisles since 1750. The primarily clay soils yield wines of ample body, but a small percentage of schist in the subsoil provides a strong mineral undertone that Moussé strives to showcase. Vinification in stainless steel accentuates the wine’s minerality and acidity but malolactic fermentation adds a soft, almost creamy texture that allows them to forgo adding dosage. The purity of this wine shows that in the hands of a skilled winemaker, Pinot Meunier can express the terroir of Champagne just as eloquently as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can.

Laherte Frères was established in 1889, but it was when Aurélien Laherte took over in 2005 that the winery started its stratospheric rise to fame. With vineyards spread across the eastern edge of the Vallée de la Marne, Laherte is able to create multiple exciting expressions of Pinot Meunier. This rosé is pure Meunier but 60% of the wine is vinified white, which provides the wine’s acidity and minerality. 10% is vinified red, adding color and power, and the last 30% is macerated on the skins to develop color, texture, and fruit. Dosage of only 2.5 grams per liter results in a rosé that manages to be vibrantly fruity yet refreshingly dry.

We recently offered a Christophe Mignon trio that sold out so quickly it helped inspire this week’s Pinot Meunier trio. Despite cultivating a mere 6.3 hectares of vines, Mignon makes a wide range of wines, so for this trio we are pleased to feature a wine that we haven’t presented before. The fact that only 480 bottles were produced adds to our excitement! ADN de Meunier, a play on the DNA of Meunier, is an assemblage rosé, meaning it is based on white wine with 16-20% red wine added to provide color and intensify the wine’s concentration. Mignon’s style is decidedly vinous, showcasing depth and power and further illustrating the many facets of Pinot Meunier.