Simon Rion's 2018 Meunier cuvée is a champagne with character, made exclusively from Pinot Meunier, the grape variety that defines the small Montagne de Reims region. Produced from a micro-plot in Courmas, this extra brut champagne offers a pure, straightforward and authentic expression of Meunier. A rare cuvée, with only 292 bottles produced.
The production of Simon Rion's 2018 Meunier champagne
#Meunier 2018 is a single-varietal cuvée made exclusively from Pinot Meunier grapes harvested from the "Maréchaude" plot in Courmas, a village in the Petite Montagne de Reims. Simon Rion, a fourth-generation winemaker, practices environmentally friendly viticulture focused on working the soil and observing the plants. The result is a clean, precise wine that is true to its terroir.
The cuvée is made exclusively from Pinot Meunier, the emblematic grape variety of the Courmas terroir. Here, it brings fruit, roundness, and straightforwardness.
The terroir
The "Maréchaude" plot is located in the Courmas terroir, in the Petite Montagne de Reims. The soil is mainly clay-limestone, well-drained, favoring slow and regular ripening. Pinot Meunier finds a unique expression here, combining substance and freshness.
Vinification
Alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation are carried out in stainless steel and concrete vats to preserve the integrity of the fruit. The wine is then aged for three years on its lees, without fining or filtration. The style is deliberately pure and direct, without excessive intervention, to highlight the signature of the vintage and the terroir. The dosage is very low, in keeping with the extra-brut style. Production is extremely limited, with only 292 bottles produced.
The 2018 vintage
2018 is a sunny and generous vintage. Marked by a mild spring followed by a hot summer, it produced a healthy, abundant and perfectly ripe harvest. The Meuniers from the Courmas area shone with their density and precision. In this cuvée, the fruit expresses itself with clarity, carried by an underlying tension that balances its richness.
Tasting notes
Color
The color of the 2018 Meunier cuvée is a clear golden yellow, with fine, regular effervescence.
Nose
The nose is frank and expressive, carried by aromas of ripe fruit, baked apple, quince and brioche. More complex notes of white pepper and chalk appear on aeration.
Palate
The palate is full-bodied and structured. The attack is round, then the wine gains tension. The finish is spicy, mouthwatering and slightly mineral. A precise cuvée that combines generosity and integrity.
Food pairing
- Parmesan gougères
- Mushroom tartlets
- Veal tartare with lemon
- Roasted pork tenderloin, full-bodied jus
- Creamy chicken with morel mushrooms
- Revisited veal blanquette
- Vanilla crème brûlée
- Caramelized apple tart
- Pear clafoutis
Store this champagne
The 2018 Meunier vintage should be stored horizontally, away from light, in a cool place with no temperature fluctuations.
Aging potential
This champagne can be stored until 2030. It will develop more complex, slightly honeyed aromas while retaining its liveliness and frankness on the palate.
When to drink
#Meunier 2018 is a cuvée with character and gastronomy, ideal for accompanying a regional meal or an autumn table. Its vinous and straightforward profile will appeal to lovers of precise, uncompromising Meuniers.
Anecdote about this cuvée
Simon Rion has created a stripped-back, honest version of Meunier. The result of patient work on living soils and vinified without artifice, #Meunier 2018 embodies a philosophy: let the vine speak for itself. Only 292 bottles have been produced, a precious testimony to the Courmas terroir.
