Essi Avellan MW introduces a tasting of Montagne de Reims Chardonnay shared with fellow revelers Simon Field MW and Anthony Rose, that shed new light on the distinctive blanc de blancs from the north of the region and revealed them as coming in darker but equally exhilarating shades of pale.
The tightly knit and elegant blanc de blancs of the Côte des Blancs are world-famous, yet Champagne has so much more to offer on the Chardonnay front. There are some less renowned subregions focusing strongly on the grape, namely Vitryat (98%), Montgueux (90%), and the Sézannais (75%). The Montagne de Reims is recognized for its monumental Pinot Noirs, and a mere 26% of the vineyard land is dedicated to Chardonnay, yet its primarily chalky soils show great potential for Chardonnay as well. “Ils pinotent,” the locals say of the richer, fruit-forward style of Chardonnays that they think borrow some features from Pinot Noir.
Previously, it was hard to put one’s finger on what exactly was Montagne de Reims blanc de blancs, as the wines were normally blended into multiregional cuvées. Today, however, thanks to the ever-strengthening trend of site-specific Champagnes, we were able to put the region’s Chardonnays to the test.
The Montagne de Reims is situated around the city of Reims, most notably to the south and west of it. It can be divided further into four subregions: Grande Montagne de Reims, Vesle and Ardre, Massif de St-Thierry, and Monts de Berru. Its most celebrated part is
This Article was originally published on World of Fine Wine
