Tasting note
It takes courage to champion Pinot Meunier in the Marne Valley – a variety all too often dismissed as a rustic filler in Champagne. With his Terre d’Irizée, Régis Poissinet demonstrates that Meunier can mature into one of the region’s most elegant Champagnes. A wine of piercing clarity and vibrant energy.
- Colour & Appearance
- Medium straw yellow, threaded with a fine, lively mousse.
- Nose
- The finest autolytic notes, white, lightly perfumed blossoms, lemon zest and almonds. Behind them, yellow and green pome and stone fruits, hints of wet stone and warm spice.
- Palate
- Pure citrus fruit meets a delicate trace of yeast and brioche; a touch of baked apple adds further depth. Mouth-watering, with gentle pressure and a broad arc of tension.
- Finish
- Long, linear and refreshing – a Champagne that lingers for minutes afterwards and leaves you craving the next glass.
- Terroir & Origin
- The vineyards lie on the threshold between the Marne Valley and the Montagne de Reims, spread across 35 plots around Cuchery, Baslieux, Leuvrigny, Troissy and Mareuil-le-Port. Calcareous clay and alluvial chalky marl lend the wines their mineral backbone; the vines average around 33 years of age.
- Grape Varieties & Vinification
- 87% Pinot Meunier, 13% Chardonnay – with 45% reserve wines. Ageing in oak and tanks; each plot is vinified separately before being blended.
- Food Pairings
- A powerful Champagne for the table: ideal with oysters and sashimi, young goat’s cheese, pan-fried sole or a delicate poultry terrine.
- Special Features
- The family estate has been farmed biodynamically since 2011 – the Demeter logo adorns the label. No herbicides, no insecticides; instead, home-made compost and vineyards teeming with life. The dosage of just 1.9 grams per litre demands flawless base wines: there is nothing here to hide behind – only wine, yeast and time.
