Description & elaboration
The Cramant 2019 cuvée by Benoit Munier is a Grand Cru Champagne Blanc de Blancs from the Grand Cru-classified village of Cramant, on the Côte des Blancs. This champagne displays notes of hawthorn, fresh lemon and toasted almond, underpinned by the characteristic minerality of chalky soils. On the palate, a silky texture gives way to a persistent mineral precision, making it an ideal companion for characterful dishes. This exclusive cuvée, produced in a run of just over one thousand bottles, is crafted by a grower whose dedication in the vineyard is truly exceptional.
The Terroir
The grapes come exclusively from vineyards in Cramant, a Grand Cru-classified village. Benoit Munier selects four individual plots: the Bauves, Bas Bourons, Crayère and Moyens du couchant parcels form the blend. These sites rest on belemnite chalk strata, a sedimentary rock that encourages the vine's root system to plunge deep in search of trace elements within the limestone fissures. The east-facing slopes ensure consistent morning sunlight.
Benoit Munier holds Haute Valeur Environnementale certification. The estate bans synthetic chemical herbicides. Soils are worked mechanically, activating microbial biomass and preserving the beneficial fauna of each plot. Controlled yields encourage berry concentration.
Vinification
This wine is a Blanc de Blancs vinified as naturally as possible. The musts are clarified by simple gravitational settling, and only the first-run juice (the cuvée) is retained at the press. Fermentation is carried out exclusively with indigenous yeasts (naturally present on the grapes), in oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation (the conversion of sharp acidity into roundness) then begins spontaneously.
Ageing in old oak barrels allows moderate contact with the wood, adding roundness and complexity without masking the terroir. The whole lees nourish the wine for nine months before racking. Bottling for secondary fermentation took place on 1 July 2020. The team then carries out disgorgement by hand. The bottles rest for nearly a year in the cellar before release.
The 2019 Vintage
The growing season began with scattered spring frosts, before the summer imposed intense heatwaves. Temperatures reached 43°C in the shade at Cramant, causing skin thickening and an accelerated reduction in organic acids. The porous chalk, however, released its stored moisture during the drought, maintaining the vine's vegetative activity and preserving the physiological balance of the berries.
The first grapes were harvested on 14 September 2019. Sun-scorched berries were sorted out in the vineyard, ensuring the sanitary integrity of the musts. The concentration of the berries yields aromas of yellow fruits and a pronounced tactile richness on the palate, while the chalky freshness of the terroir balances the generous, sun-filled character of this vintage.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
The wine shows a pale gold hue with green highlights. The effervescence releases fine, regular bubbles forming a delicate chain.
Nose
The first nose opens on candied citrus notes. Aeration gradually reveals wafts of white flowers. A backdrop of toasted almond lines the olfactory background of this vintage.
Palate
The attack shows a silky texture. A mineral precision structures the mid-palate. The chalky finish draws out flavours of lemon zest across the tongue.
Food Pairing Suggestions
- Aged comté gougères
- Open-sea oysters
- Sea bream sashimi
- Seared scallops
- Roast turbot with butter
- Poultry with suprême sauce
- Aged farmhouse Chaource
- Lemon tartlet
- 36-month aged Parmesan
The Plus de Bulles Expert's Opinion
Why I love it
I was won over by the precision of this Grand Cru, where the chalk of Cramant expresses itself with brilliance. The palate, poised between mineral tension and citrus zest notes, delivers a saline finish of outstanding length.
My recommendation
Serve at 9–10 °C in a wine glass to highlight its precision. Ideal with a scallop carpaccio or a sea bass tartare.
Serving & Storage Advice
How to store this champagne?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle (75cl) in reinforced packaging specially designed for champagne transport. Once received, we recommend storing the bottle on its side, away from light — ideally in a cellar, or at the very least in a cool, not too dry place with a relatively stable temperature.
Ageing Potential
The Cramant 2019 cuvée by Benoit Munier will evolve beautifully over the years. The acid balance of the vintage supports an estimated ageing potential of twenty years.
- Until 2029: the mineral backbone releases notes of fresh lemon and white flowers.
- From 2030: the lees develop indulgent aromas of toasted brioche and hazelnut.
- Around 2039: with further ageing, spiced notes of dried candied fruits and honey enrich the aromatic palette.
Serving Suggestions
Aim for a serving temperature stabilised around 10°C. A large tulip glass encourages full aromatic expression. A few minutes of decanting will open up the initial concentration and allow the complexity of the lees to fully unfold.
