NV Vincent d’Astrée Champagne Brut Premier Cru

Did you see that bright full moon this December? It’s shining on Meunier Day aka Moon-Yay Day! To celebrate Pinot Meunier Day today, we have a Champagne from Pinot Meunier specialists Vincent d’Astrée — it’s a blend of 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay that comes from the 1er cru of Pierry. Plus pairings!

Never heard of Pinot Meunier? It’s the least well know of the three grapes most commonly found in Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. “Meunier” in French means “baker” or “miller”; the grape leaves have silver hairs that appear to be dusted in flour hence the name.

Founded in 1956 by a small group of winemakers, today Vincent d’Astree wines come from grapes from 250 growers on 85 ha of Premier Cru vineyards in the town of Pierry. The wine spends four years on the lees then is dosed at 8g/l.  They consider themselves as the ambassador of Pinot Meunier. 

NV Vincent d’Astrée Champagne Brut Premier Cru

Named after the patron saint of the winegrowers, Vincent d’Astrée has three main assets that elevates their wines: terroir “composed of stones and soils from Pierry that produces a natural wine with gun-flint and flinty flavors… south facing vineyards help the grapes slowly ripen… winegrowers are consisted of several generations of people who continuously improve and cultivate the terroir.”

NV Vincent d’Astrée Champagne Brut Premier Cru

Menu for NV Vincent d’Astrée Champagne Brut Premier Cru

• baked camembert 
• grilled scallops
• mussels and clams on pasta 
• chicken marsala on mashed potatoes 

NV Vincent d’Astrée Champagne Brut Premier Cru

NV Vincent d’Astrée Champagne Brut Premier Cru

ABV: 12%
SRP: $20 to $75
Grapes: 80% Meunier 20% Chardonnay
Importer: C and L Importers

Sadly, only “31% of pressed grapes come from farms certified High Environmental Value or Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne.”

More of the vineyards may be farmed sustainably even organically but they aren’t certified as such.

Appearance:  Golden, yellow gold, very delicate bubbles, pale yellow rim

Aroma: Lemon, lemon custard danish, brioche, flint, minerality, limestone, strike of a match, anise seed, fennel pollen. 

Palate: Very tart lemon, caramel apple, a bit of stone fruit, with out the sweetness, bracing acidity, minerals. 

Pairing: Very nice with a simple seafood dish, very good with chicken marsala, the wine was able to cut through and cleanse the very rich dish, great with Cesar salad, the wine would love ousters, the rich delicious warm camembert is so perfect with the palate cleansing cold bubbling wine, all of us were oohing and awning over how wonderful this combination was. The cheese elevates the wine and the wine elevates the cheese. Such an easy pleasing little course, Both together keep you going back for more. This wine that was so tart and acidic on its own, developed a Meyer lemon sweetness when paired with the gooey cheese.

NV Vincent d’Astrée Champagne Brut Premier Cru