Les Monts Fournois Vallee Mareuil sur Ay 1er Cru NV (750ML)

93 WS / 92 JD

Fresh and chalky on the nose, this is creamy and generous on the palate, offering aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, preserved lemon, Marcona almond and apple blossoms. Reveals mouthwatering acidity that drives the long, lively finish of ground spices and citrus zest. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged September 2022.-Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator

Coming exclusively from other wine growers, the NV Champagne Vallée Premier Cru is 70% Pinot, 20% Chardonnay, and 10% Meunier, with 2015 as the base. It’s expressive with ripe aromas of tangerine, savory broth, and ripe nectarine and has a lively and energetic mousse. Medium-bodied and fleshy, with a ripe, pithy texture, it’s long on the palate and has a great finish. 5.6 grams per liter dosage.-Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck

Brothers Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche have decided to focus on their core holdings and wines. As part of this change, they spun out their vineyards in Les Monts Fournois and created a new estate that is being run by their cousin, Juliette Alips, whose resume includes stints at G.D. Vajra, Roederer and Château Latour.

The Monts Fournois range will encompass Coteaux Champenois and Champagne. I was able to taste the first vintages of the Coteaux for this report, but it will be some years before the Champagnes are released. During this transition period to a fully estate winery, Les Monts Fournois will also market the Cote series of négociant Champagnes the Bérêche brothers introduced a few years ago. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

The town of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ is a neighbor of the town of Aÿ, located at the Marne River, south of Montagne de Reims. The majority of vineyards are located on south-facing slopes planted mainly to Pinot Noir. Mareuil is generally considered to be the best premier cru village.

This terroir of mid-Coast Mareuil sur Aÿ and Aÿ ensures good development of the fruit. Great elegance, with structure and fine complexity of the Pinot Noir. Fine notes of vine shoot fire, soft spice, noble pepper, and dry fruits. Beautiful testimony of Pinot Noir from clay and chalk soil. A wine of fullness and structure, this Non-Vintage de Luxe answer to its rank as a solar Premier and Grand Cru of the Marne Valley.