# Le Jardin le Meunier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature (2022)

- **Producer:** Antoine Chevalier
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €65
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, apple, lemon, grapefruit, pastry, toast, brioche, butter, hazelnut

## About this wine

Champagne Antoine Chevalier is an artisan grower estate located in Vitry-en-Perthois within the Coteaux Vitryats sub-region of Champagne. After studying viticulture and gaining winemaking experience across Burgundy, South Africa, and other global regions, Antoine Chevalier returned to his family's estate in 2014 and became the first in his family to bottle estate Champagnes rather than selling to local cooperatives. Le Jardin le Meunier is a single-parcel lieu-dit planted on south-facing Cretaceous white chalk. Despite its historic name suggesting Pinot Meunier, the vineyard is planted entirely with old-vine massal-selection Chardonnay.

## Interesting facts

- Despite the name 'Le Jardin le Meunier', the vineyard is 100% Chardonnay due to a historic plot name.
- The entire Antoine Chevalier estate produces only around 7,000 bottles annually across all cuvées.
- The vine plot includes massal selection plantings dating as far back as 1954.

## Food pairing

The vibrant high acidity and bone-dry Brut Nature structure cut cleanly through rich, fat-heavy foods like fried chicken or cream sauces, while elevating fresh, delicate seafood like oysters and scallops without overpowering them.

## Wine making process

The grapes are hand-harvested in small crates from certified organic and Demeter biodynamic vineyards. Spontaneous fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts in neutral oak barrels, ceramic globes, and stainless steel tanks. The base wine ages for 10 months on fine lees prior to bottling without fining or filtration. Following secondary fermentation in bottle, the wine aged on lattes for 36 months in underground cellars before disgorgement with zero dosage (Brut Nature).