Coteaux Champenois Blanc Œil de Perdrix 2022

Wine Description for Coteaux Champenois Blanc Œil de Perdrix 2022 by Jérôme Blin

Colour & Appearance

A fascinating, pale pink – the eponymous „partridge’s eye“. This delicate, almost translucent hue emerges from the white pressing of red Pinot Meunier grapes and lends the wine an ethereal quality that underscores its rarity.

Nose

The bouquet presents itself with restraint and finesse, displaying a remarkable minerality of pencil shavings and aniseed. These are joined by lemon and grapefruit, whilst a hint of candyfloss brings an almost playful note. The aromatics are subtle yet precise – a wine that rewards patience and attention.

Palate

On the palate, the Œil de Perdrix reveals itself as ethereal and bone-dry, underpinned by a crisp, almost cutting acidity. Citrus notes dominate, complemented by crumbly apple aromas, beeswax, a saline minerality and a whisper of white pepper. Remarkable is the perceptible tannic grip, which lends the wine structure and tension – unusual for a white wine, yet characteristic of this radical vinification approach.

Finish

The finish is taut and mineral, with lingering freshness and a fine, saline aftertaste that once again emphasises the citric precision.

Grape Variety & Vinification

A single-varietal Pinot Meunier, white-pressed and aged in clay vessel and barrel. This micro-cuvée of merely 190 bottles showcases Jérôme Blin’s uncompromising signature and his experimental approach beyond classical Champagne.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This distinctive wine demands equally characterful dishes: scallop ceviche, smoked trout, goat’s cheese with honey or steamed monkfish with fennel. Also an exciting choice with oysters or sushi.

Special Features

A radically distinctive still wine from Champagne that showcases the often underestimated Meunier grape in a new light. The extreme limitation and unconventional vinification make this wine a rarity for devotees of avant-garde wine culture.