Why it matters
The producer
Beaumont des Crayères is a cooperative Champagne house in Mardeuil. It manages 80 hectares of vineyards and specializes in Meunier focused champagnes. The range includes Grande Réserve Brut and Grand Rosé alongside Fleur Blanche and Fleur de Meunier.
In 1955, small wine growers joined forces to promote their vineyards instead of selling to large houses. Their decision established Beaumont des Crayères as a cooperative. The cooperative now makes Grande Réserve Brut, Grand Rosé and the Fleur cuvées.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Beaumont des Crayères is based in Mardeuil, Champagne. Its address is 64 rue de la Liberté, 51530 Mardeuil. The producer's name comes from two Mardeuil vineyard sites, Beaumont and Crayères.
Beaumont refers to a hillside with ideal exposure to sunshine and natural soil drainage. Crayères refers to chalky subsoil associated with Champagne vineyards. Sunlight supports ripening, drainage moves excess water away from the roots, and chalk can hold moisture between rains. Sparkling grapes need ripe fruit and firm acidity, so these are practical conditions for Champagne wine.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Meunier accounts for 65% of the vineyard plantings, making it the dominant grape in the cooperative's vineyard base. The Fleur cuvées undergo a long ageing period before release. Extended ageing can soften the bubbles and add bread or pastry notes to sparkling wine.
Wines to know
The range in view
The named range includes Grande Réserve Brut, Grand Rosé, Fleur Blanche Blanc de Blancs Brut and Fleur de Meunier Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature. Fleur Blanche is a Blanc de Blancs with Extra-Brut dosage. Fleur de Meunier is a Blanc de Noirs made from 100% Meunier, with Brut Nature dosage and the 2016 vintage. Blanc de Blancs means a sparkling wine made from white grapes; Blanc de Noirs means a white sparkling wine made from dark grapes. Grande Réserve Brut and Grand Rosé sit alongside the Fleur cuvées as the other named wines.
Fleur Blanche has a luminous golden robe. Its nose opens with white flowers and grapefruit, then bergamot and a touch of minerality. A fresh attack brings good length and ends on pomelo.