ABOUT THIS WINE
This still Chardonnay comes from the Premier Cru lieu-dit Les Monts Fournois, situated in the northern Montagne de Reims—an area better known for producing top-tier Champagne base wines. Here, the chalk-laced soils and cool mesoclimate contribute to a Chardonnay of linear focus and elegant restraint. The 2022 vintage benefited from a warm but balanced growing season, allowing full ripeness without compromising freshness.
Fermentation is spontaneous, using native yeasts, followed by aging in neutral barrels or stainless steel to preserve site expression. No dosage or bâtonnage is used, and malolactic fermentation may be partially blocked, depending on the vintage character—decisions that aim to highlight the site’s chalky backbone and citrus purity. The result is a still wine that rivals top white Burgundy in tension and finesse, while remaining uniquely Champenois in tone.
Pair this rare expression with refined dishes such as scallop carpaccio, Dover sole, poultry in cream sauce, or Comté-aged cheeses—anything that echoes its elegance and subtle power.
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
Domaine Les Monts Fournois is part of a growing cadre of vignerons reclaiming Champagne’s heritage as a producer of serious still wines, known as Coteaux Champenois. Drawing from historic Premier Cru vineyards on the Montagne de Reims, the domaine focuses on small-production, terroir-expressive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vinified still rather than sparkling.
The domaine farms its parcels sustainably, often with organic or biodynamic principles, though many remain uncertified to retain flexibility. Their philosophy is rooted in low intervention: hand-harvesting, native yeast fermentations, minimal sulfur, and a deep respect for vintage and vineyard.
By championing still wines from one of Champagne’s most hallowed slopes, Les Monts Fournois not only revives a centuries-old tradition but also challenges expectations, proving that the region’s Chardonnay can express itself with grace, depth, and silence—without the sparkle.
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