Gonet-Medeville Brut Tradition 1er Cru Champagne

Gonet-Medeville Brut Tradition 1er Cru Champagne is a grower bottling from the union of two historic families: Xavier Gonet of le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs and Julie Medeville of Château Gilette in Sauternes. The blend is seventy percent Chardonnay, twenty-five percent Pinot Noir, five percent Pinot Meunier, drawn from three hectares across four premier cru sites in Bisseuil, Trépail, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, and le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Gonet-Medeville blocks malolactic fermentation and uses minimal dosage—seven grams per liter—to preserve the chalky minerality and aging potential that make this a standout introduction to their catalog in Lincoln Park. The Gonet family has farmed Chardonnay on the Côte des Blancs for generations; the Medevilles bring Sauternes precision to the dosage and blending work. Fruit is gently pressed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for ninety percent of the cuvée, with ten percent aged in neutral oak casks to add texture without masking varietal character. No chaptalization, no fining, no shortcuts—the wines rest on lees in bottle for two years before disgorgement. The vineyards are farmed sustainably on pure chalk soils, and the entire production is vegan, a rarity in Champagne where animal-derived fining agents remain standard practice. The palate is taut and focused, with green apple, lemon pith, and wet stone carried by bracing acidity. The small percentage of Pinot Noir adds weight through the midpalate; the Chardonnay drives the mineral finish. The low dosage leaves the wine dry enough for oysters, crudo, or aged Comté, but the two years on lees provide enough autolytic richness to drink on its own. Open this as an aperitif or pair it with anything involving butter, salt, and acid—think popcorn with anchovy butter or potato chips with caviar. Gonet-Medeville Brut Tradition 1er Cru Champagne is available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.