Robert Moncuit Les Grands Blancs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Robert Moncuit Les Grands Blancs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is a single-village Champagne made entirely from Chardonnay grown in the chalky vineyards of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the Côte des Blancs' six grand cru villages. The current release blends the 2015 and 2014 vintages with a dosage of just three grams per liter, putting it squarely in the extra brut category and letting the mineral backbone of Mesnil terroir speak without sugar's veil. Winemaker Pierre Amillet, fourth-generation steward of the domaine, is known for bottling some of the most expressive blanc de blancs in the appellation, and this non-vintage cuvée shows the more extroverted, vinous side of a site better known for austerity in its youth. The Moncuit family began acquiring parcels in Le Mesnil in 1889 and started estate bottling in 1928, making them one of the earlier grower-Champagne pioneers in a region long dominated by négociant houses. Pierre Amillet's obsession with the chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs is well-documented — he has been known to carry samples of the region's characteristic belemnite chalk across continents to illustrate what sets his vineyards apart. That chalk drains quickly, stresses the vines just enough, and imparts a saline minerality that runs through every bottle. The domaine farms roughly fifteen hectares across grand cru sites, all Chardonnay, and ferments in stainless steel to preserve varietal clarity and the imprint of limestone bedrock. The wine shows lemon confit, marzipan, dried flowers, chamomile, and a thread of baking spice, balancing richness with translucent energy and a long, chalky finish. The low dosage amplifies both the fruit's inner sweetness and the mineral tension underneath, making it a versatile bottle at the table — pair it with oysters, grilled Dover sole, roast chicken with tarragon, or aged Comté. It is vinous enough to handle richer dishes but lifted enough to open an evening with friends, and the blend of two consecutive vintages gives it more aromatic complexity than many entry-level grower Champagnes at this price point. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.