Guy Charlemagne Mesnillesime Le Mesnil 2012

Richard Juhlin writes: "Consistently one of the greatest grower-champagnes since its launch in 1988. The grape juice from the firm’s oldest vines in Le Mesnil is fermented in a mix of steel tanks and oak barrels to develop a balance between power and elegance. Nuttier and richer than its neighbor Pierre Peters Les Chetillons. The vintages 1988 and 1990 are now mature, and it will not be long before you can go for 1995 and 1996" Source champangneclub.com 

Mesnillesime is made from handselected - all grapes are of course handpicked chez Charlemagne - chardonnay grapes from the best old vines in Le Mesnil which are over 60 years old and grown on very chalky soil. Philippe Charlemagne vinifies one third in small oak barrels without malolactic fermentation, one third in tank without malolactic fermentation and one third in tank with malolactic fermentation. The dosage is 3g/l. The base wines are very concentrated and they have the Le Mesnil typical minerality and structure while Chouilly and Cramant give fatter wines. The Le Mesnil terroir demands a little patience and if you ever tasted a 1988 Mesnillesime, that was rated 95 by Richard Juhlin not long ago, you understand what exceptional taste experiences eventually reward patience.  2012 has great intensity, elegance and harmony that impress already today. In the nose we can find acacia honey, citron confit, a mineral-iodine breeze and for the hypersensitive a nose a barely perceptible wiff of vanilla wood spice that is dominated by the mineral intensity. The palate is concentrated, there is citrus and a lot of fressness leading to an impressively long and intensive finish.