NV Famille Mousse "Eugene" Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne
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A grower since 1750, Champagne Moussé sits in the village of Cuisles, in a valley perpendicular to the Vallee de la Marne. This side valley has a unique soil in Champagne: a schist subsoil under clay. While PinotMeunier often struggles to be taken seriously in Champagne, at Moussé, Pinot Meunier is celebrated. 80% of the vines planted are meunier, with the balance planted to pinot noir and chardonnay.
This agency is the only member of the Club de Tresor to make a Special Club wine of 100% Pinot Meunier. In the vineyards, Cedric Moussé adheres to a ‘lutte raisonee’ approach. He practices organic viticulture, using herbal infusions that act as ‘vitamins’ for the vines, cover crops, zero pesticides, and minimal doses of heavy metals like copper. His new winery, completed in 2012 may be deceiving; the modern facility leads us to believe this is a new operation. Solar panels power the cellar, tasting room, and 2 houses on the property, while geothermal energy moderates temperature throughout the winery. An underground spring provides enough water for irrigation on the farm. Moussé works almost exclusively in stainless steel, with the exception of a small amount of pinot meunier destined for his rosé. All cuvees undergo malolactic fermentation. The resulting wines seem to gush with red and dark fruits characteristic of pinot meunier, and a structured, saline minerality.
L'Or d'Eugéne is made from 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir. It is what Cedric calls a "perpetual" cuvée. To make it simple, you can imagine 2 barrels. 1 full and 1 empty. You transfer half of the full one in the empty, so both are at 50%. Then, you add 50% of the new harvest in each one. You’ll bottle one of the tank, and you keep the other one to star again the next year. Cedric uses this method to strike a masterful balance between the freshness of the new vintage with the complexity and depth only “old wines” can bring.
