The 2018 Le Mont-Aigu Grand Cru cuvée from Champagne Lancelot-Pienne is an exceptional blanc de blancs from a locality between Chouilly and Cramant. This terroir combines the crystalline purity of Cramant chalk with the mineral tension of Chouilly. Made from Chardonnay Grand Cru grapes, this cuvée reveals finesse, balance, and verticality in a rare cuvée, produced in a limited edition of only 316 bottles.
The production of Lancelot-Pienne's Le Mont-Aigu Grand Cru 2018
Le Mont-Aigu 2018 is a single-vineyard vintage produced with rigorous viticultural and winemaking practices. The vines, planted in 1951 and 1975 on 40 ares 69 of chalky rendzine soil, are cultivated with care: cover crops of fava beans, vetch and oats, sustainable plowing, herbal teas and biological pest control. Working under the vines promotes biodiversity and the expression of the terroir.
The terroir
Located on the border between Chouilly and Cramant, the "Mont-Aigu" plot enjoys an ideal south/southeast exposure. The rendzine and chalk subsoil gives the wine a crystalline purity, a saline tension, and a delicate bitterness on the finish.
Vinification
The wines are vinified in temperature-controlled 26-hl stainless steel vats at 18°C. Malolactic fermentation is not carried out in order to preserve freshness.
The wine is then aged for
- 10 months in stainless steel vats to maintain its original purity.
- 5 years in the cellar to enhance its minerality and finesse.
The Mont-Aigu Grand Cru 2018 was bottled in July 2019 and disgorged in June 2024, with an Extra Brut dosage of 2.2 g/L. Ultra-limited production of only 316 bottles.
Tasting notes
Appearance
The color is pale yellow with golden highlights, bright and clear, with fine, regular effervescence.
Nose
Aromatic finesse: white flowers, salty freshness, crystalline purity and airy lightness.
Palate
Light attack typical of southern Chouilly, delicate tension on the mid-palate, and a finish with a gentle saline bitterness, perfectly embodying its terroir.
Serving suggestions
- Thin Comté cheese gougères
- Hollow oysters
- Sautéed white asparagus
- Roasted turbot fillet with lemon juice
- Steamed John Dory with sauce vierge
- Sole tournedos with white butter sauce
- Delicate lemon tart
- Orange blossom panna cotta
- Raspberry and quince macarons
Storing this champagne
The 2018 Le Mont-Aigu cuvée should be stored horizontally, away from light, between 10 and 12°C, in a stable environment.
Aging potential
It can be kept until 2032, when its chalky, floral tension will reveal itself with assertive elegance.
When to drink
Le Mont-Aigu Grand Cru 2018 is a cuvée for fine dining, perfect for a seafood meal, a refined fish dish, or a gourmet lunch.
