Introducing Champagne Les Freres Mignon
Introducing Champagne Les Freres Mignon
During a recent trip to Champagne I saw the wines of Freres Mignons all over the shelves of some of the top wine shops in Reims. They truly are quite eye capturing labels, with thoughtful doodles and a splash of color. I was excited to learn that the wines had just arrived in New York and quickly set up time to taste the lineup. My initial reaction was how joyful the wines are across the board. Elegant, sunny, and pretty with incredible purity and finesse. Behind their playful labels is some serious Champagne.
The Mignon family has been growing and selling grapes in the heart of the Cote de Blancs for decades, but in 2015, brothers Florent and Julien decided it was time for them to make their own wines. The family has some incredible plots from Avize, Cramant, Cuis, and Cumières amounting to about 8.5 hectares in total. Almost all of these are planted to Chardonnay, with a mere 10% for Pinot Noir from Cumières. When creating the family domaine, they centered their philosophy around organic farming with minimal intervention in the cellar. The brothers work side by side most of the time and share tasks both in the vineyards and the cellar. All decisions are made together. Care and attention has gone into each and every step, and that is most evident in the quality of the final wines.
The Mignon family has been growing and selling grapes in the heart of the Cote de Blancs for decades, but in 2015, brothers Florent and Julien decided it was time for them to make their own wines. The family has some incredible plots from Avize, Cramant, Cuis, and Cumières amounting to about 8.5 hectares in total. Almost all of these are planted to Chardonnay, with a mere 10% for Pinot Noir from Cumières. When creating the family domaine, they centered their philosophy around organic farming with minimal intervention in the cellar. The brothers work side by side most of the time and share tasks both in the vineyards and the cellar. All decisions are made together. Care and attention has gone into each and every step, and that is most evident in the quality of the final wines.
During my research, I stumbled upon a really fascinating video on Florent's instagram where he showcased a geological study they did recently in the vineyards to see how a decade of organic farming affected the vines. He says, "we discovered stubborn and courageous roots. Thanks to gelifraction (the natural shattering of the chalk by frost over millennia), the root system doesn't stop at the surface. It flattens, twists, and dives into the heart of the fissured chalk blocks. This root tortuosity is exactly what goes hunting for minerals deep underground. The soil is breathing! We observed a magnificent crumbly structure, healthy scent of geosmin and intense biological activity (shout out to the endogenic fauna!). Thus microbial life is the key: it remobilized iron, oxygenates the earth, and allows the active limestone to nourish the vine without locking it up. I knew we were heading in the right direction with our change in practices, but seeing and physically measuring the impact reassures us and motivates us even more for the next decade."
After harvest, the grapes undergo meticulous sorting before pressing into 255 and 600 liter French oak barrels. Spontaneous fermentation occurs, and then they spend about 1 year in barrel on the lees before bottling. Depending on the cuvee, the wines then spend 30-53 months sur lattes.
After harvest, the grapes undergo meticulous sorting before pressing into 255 and 600 liter French oak barrels. Spontaneous fermentation occurs, and then they spend about 1 year in barrel on the lees before bottling. Depending on the cuvee, the wines then spend 30-53 months sur lattes.
On offer today we have their NV L'Aventure, a Blanc de Blancs made from 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant, and Cuis. The base is 2021 with reserve wines from 2016-2020. Vinified in a mix of stainless steel and 228-500 Liter barrels and Foudre for 30 months. Disgorged with 3.2g/L. The wine is beautifully sunny with ripe yellow apple, lemon curd and a small touch of brioche on the end. This is a bright, fresh, fun Champagne, perfect with seafood, poultry, or as an aperitif! 2019 Cuis is a Blanc de Blancs of 100% Chardonnay from 1er cru Cuis, of the fantastic 2019 vintage. Vinified in 228-500 Liter barrels on the whole lees. Aged sur lattes for 53 months before being disgorged with 2.4g/L. Just 500 bottles were made. A wine of true elegance with lovely florality and ripe yellow fruit. There is something quite sunny and lively in this wine! Lovely concentration with depth while being quite soft and very vinous. Lastly is their 2020 Cumières, a blend of about 60% Pinot Noir with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier from the premier cru of Cumières. Co-pressed and vinified in 225 and 228 Liter barrels on the whole lees. Aged sur lattes under cork for 42 months, disgorged with no dosage. Only 500 bottles made. This is a really pretty wine with lovely notes of red berries and florals. There's some additional power behind this wine in comparison to the other two yet still retains such purity and softness.
With such limited production, quantities vary a bit so snag some of these special wines while you can! In addition to these three fantastic wines, I have included a few other new arrivals from Champagne, all worth checking out.
With such limited production, quantities vary a bit so snag some of these special wines while you can! In addition to these three fantastic wines, I have included a few other new arrivals from Champagne, all worth checking out.
-Hanna Krilov Cohen
Please allow until Wednesday, April 15th for pick-up and delivery
Freres Mignon NV Champagne L'Aventure Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (base '22)
Blanc de blanc made from 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant, and Cuis. The base is 2021 with reserve wines from 2016-2020. Vinified in a mix of stainless steel and 228-500 Liter barrels and Foudre for 30 months. Disgorged with 3.2g/L....
$87.99
Freres Mignon 2020 Champagne Cumières Extra Brut
A blend of about 60% Pinot Noir with Chardonnay and Pinot meunier from the premier cru of Cumières. Co-pressed and vinified in 225 and 228 Liter barrels on the whole lees. Aged sur lattes under cork for 42 months, disgorged...
$115.99
Freres Mignon 2019 Champagne Cuis Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Blanc de blancs of 100% Chardonnay from 1er cru Cuis, of the fantastic 2019 vintage. Vinified in 228-500 Liter barrels on the whole lees. Aged sur lattes for 53 months before being disgorged with 2.4g/L. Just 500 bottles were made. ...
$124.99
![Brochet, Emmanuel NV Champagne Extra Brut 1er Cru Mont Benoit [Base 2022]](http://chambersstwines.com/cdn/shop/files/brochetmontbenois_900x.jpg?v=1775741673)
![Brochet, Emmanuel NV Champagne Extra Brut Rose d'Assemblage [Base 2022]](http://chambersstwines.com/cdn/shop/files/brochetrose_900x.jpg?v=1775741650)
Gosset, Paul NV Champagne Des Jours et Des Muids (Base '22)
Base 2022 with 20% from a perpetual reserve from 2004-2021. Beautifully perfumed with golden apple and floral notes. A really textural, bright and lifted Champagne.
$89.99
Mea NV Champagne Rosa Delice Premier Cru Extra Brut (disg. 1/25)
Their Rosa Delice is blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir with 10% Bouzy Rouge. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are sourced from terroirs on the northern slopes of the Montagne, including Ludes and Montbré, both Premier Cru....
$64.99
Gallois-Bouché NV Champagne Nos Terres Blanches Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut
Blanc de Blancs made of 100% Chardonnay. A blend of 50% 2022 and 50% reserve wine half of which is vinified in oak with the other half in tank. Grown on deep chalk soils in Vertus. Aged24-36 months sur lattes...
$89.99
