Why it matters
The producer
The house seeks balance between the taste richness of Pinot and the elegance of Chardonnay. Champagne Charles Mignon is a family run house in Épernay, founded by Bruno and Laurence Mignon. Its wines include an organic Brut and the named Cuvée Comte de Marne Grand Cru.
Bruno and Laurence Mignon founded Champagne Charles Mignon in Épernay. The family line reaches back to winegrowers from Mesnil-le-Huttier, while the present house operates a modern stainless steel thermoregulated winery of small capacity. Charles Mignon has been listed with the Union of Champagne Houses since 2003 and has received more than 150 awards.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Champagne Charles Mignon is based at 6 to 7 rue Irène Joliot Curie in Épernay. The house also maintains vineyards in Chouilly, a Grand Cru village. Grand Cru in Champagne is a village classification, so Chouilly identifies the classification attached to those vineyard holdings. The Mignon family's winegrowing roots lie in Mesnil-le-Huttier, a hamlet near Festigny in the Vallée de la Marne.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The winery uses stainless steel and temperature control in a small capacity setting. Stainless steel provides a neutral vessel, while temperature control keeps fermentation within a chosen range.
Cuvée Comte de Marne Grand Cru ages in bottle for 36 to 48 months before release. Bottle ageing allows Champagne to develop after its second fermentation, while the bubbles become softer with time. The dosage is 7 g/L, a small addition used to preserve freshness and fruit.
Wines to know
The range in view
Two cuvées show different sides of the house. Organic Brut comes from organically certified vineyards and uses Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, in a composition of 50% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay.
Cuvée Comte de Marne Grand Cru comes from a single harvest and combines 70% Chardonnay with 30% Pinot Noir. The Organic Brut is the organic three grape bottle, while the Comte de Marne carries the Grand Cru designation and a stronger Chardonnay share.