Brut de Muid

This Blanc de Blancs is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes using the traditional method and spends two years on the lees. It is a simple, but well made sparkling wine.

Although overall I consider it a very pleasant sparkling wine, I find it hard to write tasting notes. I therefore avoid it. Seems like that even Champagne wines are often so subtly aromatic that the effervescence may mask their delicate bouquet. Not sure it is also the case with this Blanc de Blancs…

Brut de Muid is produced under the IGP Haute-Marne. Although it is already in the administrative Champagne region of France, Haute-Marne is located many kilometres away from the Champagne AOC, and therefore its sparkling wines cannot be called Champagne.

The department of Haute-Marne sits roughly in the center of a triangle made by the famous wine regions of Champagne (to the west), Alsace (to the east) and Burgundy (to the south). Nevertheless, its wines are basically unknown.

Vineyards occupied a lot more land in Haute-Marne before the phylloxera crisis and a manpower shortage brought about by World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic saw vineyard land decimated. A resurgence of sorts in the 1980s has seen a small revival for winegrowing in Haute-Marne.

A range of wine styles can be produced in the department, from still wines based on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to sparkling wines made using the méthode traditionnelle.

This wine is made by Le Muid Montsaugeonnais. I bought this bottle in Langres for 9.90 EUR.

Country: France
Region: Haute-Marne
Grapes: Chardonnay
Type: Sparkling
Vintage: N/A
Producer: Le Muid Montsaugeonnais
Price range: Economic (<15 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5