Unbottled – Champagne Herbert & Co. 1000 % Meunier

There is a bit of hype around the champagnes from Herbert & Co. Luckily, I managed to get my hands on a bottle from Champagne Characters.

Thomas Herbert produces the ‘1000 % Meunier’ from grapes grown in the Premier Cru villages of Rilly-la-Montagne, Ludes and Trois-Puits, as well as the Grand Cru villages of Verzenay and Mailly. Following the manual harvest and gentle pressing, the wine ages for nine months in 228-litre used Burgundy barriques. The subsequent bottle fermentation and ageing takes another three years.

Opens up with time

At first, Herbert & Co. seems rather reserved, offering notes of red fruits, honey, minerals and citrus. There are hints of brioche, but they do not overwhelm the taste. As the temperature rises, the Meunier opens up, revealing complex flavours of red and overripe apples, minerals, and other winey notes. The acidity is pronounced, but everything is kept in balance. It’s easy to see why these champagnes are becoming increasingly sought after.