Derrière le Mont Aigu N°16 Chouilly Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2016

Wine Description for Derrière le Mont Aigu N°16 Chouilly Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2016 by Pertois-Lebrun

Character

Pertois-Lebrun belongs to those grower champagnes that have been attracting increasing attention in recent years – small producers who work their parcels with artisanal precision. This Blanc de Blancs from Chouilly embodies the mineral elegance of one of the most prestigious Grand Cru terroirs of the Côte des Blancs. The dosage as Extra Brut underscores the confidence: here the terroir is meant to speak, not the sugar.

Terroir & Origin

Chouilly ranks among the six Grand Cru communes of the Côte des Blancs and is classified exclusively for Chardonnay. The chalky soils here – deep, porous, water-retentive – shape the character sustainably: they impart those wines with that chalky minerality and tension that make Blanc de Blancs from this zone so unmistakable. The 2016 vintage is regarded in Champagne as well-balanced, with good acidity structure and ageing potential – a classic vintage without extreme weather caprices, one that favours finesse over opulence.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Chardonnay in its purest form, as the Côte des Blancs understands it: precise, taut, with the ability to age. The numbering „N°16“ suggests a parcel selection – presumably a specific vineyard site behind Mont Aigu, that hill which characterises Chouilly. At Pertois-Lebrun, work is conducted traditionally, with respect for the raw material. The Extra Brut dosage (under 6 g/l residual sugar) demands absolute ripeness and harmony from the base wine – a style that conceals nothing and lays everything bare.

Food Pairing Recommendations

The bony structure and freshness call for delicate yet aromatically precise dishes: raw oysters, scallops or sashimi harmonise beautifully. Also pan-fried turbot with butter and herbs or a goat’s cheese of medium maturity find a congenial partner here. The minerality pairs excellently with caviar – a classic, if admittedly luxurious, pairing.