Minière F&R : Blanc Absolu

Tasting characteristics and advice for Blanc Absolu de Minière F&R

Tasting

Appearance

With a pale yellow hue and golden highlights, this Champagne is bright and crystalline. The effervescence stands out for its finesse and elegance, with a delicate, persistent bead.

Nose

Expressive and complex, the nose reveals lovely minerality alongside delicate toasty notes. Citrus aromas come through with freshness, suggesting lemon and grapefruit, while hints of warm stone add an extra dimension. Scents of acacia and hawthorn flowers also emerge, along with touches of apple pulp and bread crust.

Palate

The attack is precise and taut, carried by a fine structure and remarkable balance. Freshness dominates, with lemony flavors wrapped in a touch of toast. The finish, long and sustained, expresses a chalky minerality of great purity. Overall, this is a faithful expression of Chardonnay, defined by its precision and mineral brilliance.

Food and wine pairings

This Blanc Absolu pairs perfectly with seafood and oysters. It also complements aged cheeses with elegance.

Serving and cellaring

Blanc Absolu is best served between 8 and 10°C to fully appreciate its qualities.

A Champenois Blanc de Blancs of exceptional mineral purity

The estate

Founded in 1919 by Alfred Minière, the Minière F&R House is now run by Frédéric and Rodolphe Minière, representing the fourth generation. Based in Hermonville, at the gateway to the Montagne de Reims, the estate farms around 8 hectares of vines under organic farming. Trained alongside Anselme Selosse, Frédéric introduced barrel aging and organic viticulture. Minière F&R Champagne remains Hermonville’s only grower-producer, cultivating a distinctive, chalk-free terroir.

The vineyard

Blanc Absolu comes from Hermonville’s unique terroir in Champagne, specifically the lieux-dits Les Moineaux, Les Fosselles and Les Voirmissa. The Chardonnay vines thrive on silty clay-sandy soils over lacustrine limestone, giving the wine its hallmark mineral signature.

The blend

This cuvée is the result of a blend made up of 75% from the 2022 vintage and 25% from the 2021 vintage, combining the freshness of the recent vintage with the complexity brought by reserve wines.

Winemaking and aging

Blanc Absolu NM undergoes fermentation in oak barrels for 8 months on lees, using 30% barrels under 4 years old and 70% barrels aged 5 years and more. This approach brings toasty, vanilla notes while preserving the purity of the fruit. Bottling takes place in June 2023 in special bottles, followed by 34 months of cellar aging. Disgorgement takes place at least 6 months before release. The bottles are sealed with a traditional ‘fleur’ quality cork.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay