Description & elaboration
The Mont de Tauxières 2020 cuvée from Georges Remy is a champagne born from a Grand Cru single-vineyard plot on the Montagne de Reims. It is a champagne with notes of mirabelle plum and peach — underscored by a backdrop of toasted brioche and a hint of cinnamon. On the palate, the vinous texture strikes a balance between the flesh of Pinot Noir and a taut, saline finish.
The Terroir
The grapes come from the eponymous lieu-dit on the commune of Bouzy, a Grand Cru-classified village on the south-facing slopes of the Montagne de Reims. The plot is south-east facing. The vines, planted in 1971 and 1973, sink their roots deep into a stratum of belemnite chalk lying beneath a clay horizon. The estate holds Organic Agriculture certification validated by Ecocert and applies biodynamic farming methods. Natural ground cover between the rows preserves biodiversity.
The vinification
The blend consists of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay.
The musts ferment spontaneously using indigenous yeasts. The winemaker then ages the base wine in Burgundian barrels. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, without inoculation. Disgorgement is carried out by hand, in the traditional Champagne manner.The 2020 vintage
The year 2020 began with a rainfall-rich winter before a pronounced summer drought set in during the ripening period. The roots drew on residual moisture stored in the Campanian sediments. These demanding conditions triggered historically early harvests: the black grape varieties reached full ripeness as early as 27 August. The absence of summer rain prevented the development of downy mildew, ensuring an impeccable sanitary condition. Yields remained well below the ten-year averages.
Tasting notes
Appearance
The appearance reveals a fine effervescence and an intense gold hue with coppery highlights.
Nose
The first nose delivers notes of toasted brioche. Aeration releases aromas of mirabelle plum and peach, before a final hint of cinnamon.
Palate
The attack is broad and vinous. Citrus freshness balances the fleshy character of the Pinot Noir. The finish lingers on a vibrant saline tension.
Pairing suggestions
- Gougères with aged Comté
- Cured Iberian ham
- Foie gras toasts
- Roasted free-range poultry
- Pan-fried veal sweetbreads
- Scallops
- Comté aged 24 months
- Farmhouse Chaource
- Apple tart
The Plus de Bulles expert's opinion
Why I love it?
What strikes me here is the energy of a vibrant fruit underpinned by a lively minerality. I love its fleshy palate with accents of red berries and its saline finish, which lingers beautifully.
My recommendation
Serve at 10–12 °C in a wine glass alongside a poularde with morels. Its structure ensures serene cellaring for around ten years.
Advice
How to store this champagne?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle (75 cl) in reinforced packaging specially designed for champagne. Once received, store the bottle on its side, away from light. Ideally in a cellar; otherwise, in a cool, not too dry place at a stable temperature.
Ageing potential
The acidity of the Mont de Tauxières 2020 from Georges Remy underpins a remarkable ageing capacity. The wine can be cellared for several decades.
- Until 2030: the cuvée will offer notes of fresh yellow fruits, mirabelle plum and ripe peach.
- From 2031: the champagne will evolve towards aromas of roasting, toasted hazelnut and gentle spices.
- Around 2040: the 2020 vintage will reach tertiary nuances of honey, beeswax and forest floor.
Serving advice
This champagne should be served at 10–12 °C to respect the structure of wines aged in oak. Choose a tulip glass, which concentrates the volatile aromatic compounds and encourages aeration. Avoid decanting: it would dissipate the carbon dioxide.
A note about this cuvée
The Remy family runs this estate in the Marne and has committed to a transition towards farming practices that respect the living world. The historic plots of Tours-sur-Marne centralise the production of grapes from fifty-year-old vines. Also discover a vintage Blanc de Noirs signed by Georges Remy to explore this terroir. The masterful use of oak barrels is the hallmark of the estate's strong identity, an emblematic approach on the Montagne de Reims.
Also worth discovering: the iconic organic blend from the Montagne de Reims.
