2018 Les Freres Mignon Terroir d'Avize Vintage | Exciting New Producer

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST EXCITING NEW PRODUCERS! 2018 GRAND CRU AVIZE CHARDONNAY – 67 MONTHS ON LEES!

2018 Les Frères Mignon Terroir d'Avize Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut – Champagne, France

RRP $306 per bottle

This is the sort of Champagne that makes us incredibly excited about the future of the region.

Two ambitious young brothers.

An extraordinary family vineyard.

One of the most prestigious Chardonnay villages in Champagne.

Old vines rooted in pure chalk.

And a remarkable 67 months of ageing on lees.

THIS IS SERIOUS GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE.

The 2018 Les Frères Mignon Terroir d'Avize comes from a single vineyard named Le Chemin de Paradis, situated in the legendary Grand Cru village of Avize.

Made entirely from Chardonnay, fermented in oak and matured for more than five and a half years on its lees, this is a wine of extraordinary precision, concentration and mineral intensity.

And the most exciting part?

Les Frères Mignon is still a relatively new name in Champagne.

The brothers released their first wines only in 2019, yet they have access to vineyards in some of the most celebrated villages in the entire region.

For anyone who loves discovering extraordinary growers before they become household names, this is a Champagne that deserves serious attention.

2018 GRAND CRU AVIZE. SINGLE VINEYARD. OLD-VINE CHARDONNAY. 67 MONTHS ON LEES.

JUST $306 PER BOTTLE.

Les Frères Mignon – Two Brothers with an Extraordinary Future

The story of Les Frères Mignon is a wonderful example of the new generation transforming Champagne.

Brothers Florent and Julien Mignon come from a family with a long history of cultivating vineyards in the Côte des Blancs.

For generations, the family owned and worked exceptional vineyard parcels.

But rather than producing Champagne under their own label, much of the fruit was sold through the cooperative system or to other producers.

The brothers saw an extraordinary opportunity.

Why sell grapes from some of Champagne's finest vineyards when they could produce their own wines?

In 2014, Florent and Julien began their move away from the cooperative system.

With help from their father, they established their own winemaking facilities in Cramant.

Their first independent vintage was 2016.

And their first Champagnes reached the market in 2019.

AN EXCITING NEW PRODUCER WAS BORN.

What makes the story so compelling is the quality of their vineyards.

Avize Grand Cru.

Cramant Grand Cru.

Cuis Premier Cru.

Cumières Premier Cru.

These are not ordinary vineyard holdings.

They are some of Champagne's most fascinating and historically important terroirs.

And the brothers are determined to express their individuality through thoughtful, minimally interventionist winemaking.

This is a new-generation Champagne estate with extraordinary foundations.

Avize Grand Cru – One of the Greatest Chardonnay Villages in the World

If you appreciate the world's finest Blanc de Blancs Champagnes, Avize is a name you need to know.

Situated in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, Avize is one of Champagne's most celebrated Grand Cru villages.

Its chalk-rich soils are renowned for producing Chardonnay with remarkable precision, concentration and longevity.

The finest wines from Avize combine extraordinary mineral tension with impressive depth.

Fresh lemon.

White flowers.

Green apple.

Chalk.

Saline complexity.

And beautiful natural acidity.

But great Avize Champagne is about much more than freshness.

The best examples possess remarkable structure and the ability to develop additional complexity over many years.

This is one of the great Chardonnay terroirs of the wine world.

And the 2018 Les Frères Mignon Terroir d'Avize is a magnificent expression of its character.

Le Chemin de Paradis – One Extraordinary Vineyard

What makes this Champagne particularly special is that it comes from a single vineyard.

LE CHEMIN DE PARADIS.

Located within the Grand Cru village of Avize, this remarkable parcel is planted to Chardonnay rooted in pure chalk soils.

The vines are mature and include plant material propagated through massal selection, a traditional approach that helps preserve the genetic diversity and character of established vineyards.

The chalk is fundamental to the personality of the wine.

It helps regulate water availability.

It supports the development of beautifully balanced fruit.

And it is closely associated with the mineral precision and structural elegance for which Avize is famous.

The brothers work carefully to preserve the character of their vineyards.

And rather than blending this parcel with fruit from other villages, they have chosen to bottle its individual expression.

ONE VINEYARD. ONE GRAND CRU VILLAGE. ONE EXTRAORDINARY EXPRESSION OF CHARDONNAY.

The 2018 Vintage – Generosity Meets Precision

The 2018 vintage was one of Champagne's most generous growing seasons of the decade.

A warm summer and favourable harvest conditions produced ripe, healthy fruit with impressive concentration.

For Chardonnay, the vintage offered beautiful generosity and depth.

But in the finest chalk vineyards, that richness could be balanced by the freshness and structure that make great Champagne so compelling.

And that is what makes this wine particularly fascinating.

The generous character of 2018.

The mineral precision of Avize.

And the extraordinary depth developed through extended lees ageing.

A magnificent combination of vintage richness and Grand Cru finesse.

Fermented in Oak – Extraordinary Texture and Complexity

The winemaking approach at Les Frères Mignon is particularly interesting.

The brothers favour spontaneous fermentation and minimal intervention.

For Terroir d'Avize, the Chardonnay is fermented and matured in oak barrels.

The 2018 wine has been documented as using vessels ranging from approximately 228 to 500 litres.

Oak fermentation allows the wine to develop texture and complexity while preserving the character of the vineyard.

The brothers also avoid fining and filtration.

Their aim is to retain the natural expression of the fruit.

This is thoughtful winemaking that allows the remarkable character of Avize to take centre stage.

67 Months on Lees – More Than Five and a Half Years of Ageing!

Now this is where the 2018 Terroir d'Avize becomes particularly exciting.

SIXTY-SEVEN MONTHS ON LEES!

That's more than five and a half years of bottle maturation before disgorgement.

This extended ageing is enormously important to the character of the Champagne.

Over time, the wine develops additional complexity.

The mousse becomes beautifully integrated.

The texture becomes more harmonious.

And subtle savoury characters begin to emerge.

Brioche.

Toasted nuts.

Delicate pastry.

Roasted almond.

And beautiful autolytic complexity.

But what makes great Champagne so extraordinary is the ability to retain freshness alongside this maturity.

The 2018 Terroir d'Avize combines the energy of Grand Cru Chardonnay with the extraordinary depth that comes from extended ageing.

This is Champagne that deserves to be savoured.

Extra Brut – Remarkable Purity and Precision

The 2018 Terroir d'Avize is finished in an Extra Brut style.

Documented releases have used exceptionally restrained dosage, reinforcing the wine's dry, mineral-driven personality.

This is important.

The wine's richness comes from its fruit.

Its old vines.

Its oak fermentation.

And its extraordinary lees ageing.

Not from added sweetness.

The result is a Champagne with beautiful tension, impressive concentration and a remarkably long finish.

Pure, precise and wonderfully sophisticated.

Lemon, Toasted Almond, Saline Minerality and Extraordinary Structure

The 2018 Terroir d'Avize is a Champagne of remarkable character.

The aromas open with fresh lemon and citrus zest.

There are delicate notes of white flowers and orchard fruit.

Then come the more complex characters.

Lightly toasted nuts.

Subtle oak spice.

Brioche.

And beautifully savoury mineral notes.

The palate is particularly impressive.

There is real concentration.

A fine, beautifully integrated mousse.

And a powerful sense of structure.

The chalky, saline character provides remarkable tension.

The oak is beautifully integrated into the wine's texture.

And the finish is long, dry and wonderfully persistent.

As the wine opens in the glass, additional layers of mineral and savoury complexity emerge.

THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A REFRESHING APÉRITIF CHAMPAGNE.

It is a serious, structured Blanc de Blancs with the depth and complexity to accompany exceptional food.

A Champagne for Lovers of Great White Burgundy

One of the most exciting things about this wine is its distinctly vinous personality.

The single-vineyard focus.

The old-vine Chardonnay.

The oak fermentation.

And the extraordinary time spent on lees.

These are qualities that will particularly appeal to lovers of great white Burgundy.

There is concentration.

Texture.

Mineral precision.

And a remarkable sense of place.

Of course, the bubbles add another dimension.

But at its heart, this is a great Chardonnay wine.

If you love the finest Chardonnays from Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault, this is a Champagne well worth discovering.

Extraordinary with Fine Dining

The 2018 Terroir d'Avize deserves to be served at the dinner table.

Its concentration, structure and mineral precision make it particularly well suited to exceptional food.

Lobster with Brown Butter

A magnificent combination of rich shellfish and the Champagne's savoury complexity.

Pan-Seared Scallops

Beautiful with scallops, especially when accompanied by a delicate butter sauce.

Turbot or John Dory

The wine's texture and acidity complement the richness of fine white fish.

Roast Chicken

Particularly good with lemon, herbs and a rich roasting jus.

Mushroom and Truffle Dishes

The wine's savoury depth makes it an excellent partner for earthy flavours.

Aged Comté

The toasted and nutty characters of the Champagne complement the complexity of aged cheese.

For something particularly memorable, serve it with lobster, browned butter and a little fresh lemon.

This is Champagne made for extraordinary dining experiences.

A Champagne Worth Cellaring

The 2018 Terroir d'Avize possesses many of the qualities associated with age-worthy Champagne.

A great Grand Cru Chardonnay vineyard.

Beautiful natural acidity.

Concentrated fruit.

Oak fermentation.

And extended lees ageing.

The wine has already developed considerable complexity through its long maturation before disgorgement.

But its structure suggests the potential for further development under appropriate cellar conditions.

Over time, the citrus and mineral characters may become more integrated with toasted, nutty and savoury notes.

This is a Champagne that serious collectors should find particularly fascinating.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we have an enormous appreciation for discovering exceptional producers before the rest of the wine world catches up.

And Les Frères Mignon is exactly the sort of estate that excites us.

First, there is the story.

Two brothers establishing their own Champagne estate from remarkable family vineyards.

Then there is the village.

AVIZE GRAND CRU!

One of the most celebrated Chardonnay terroirs in Champagne.

Then there is the vineyard.

LE CHEMIN DE PARADIS – A SINGLE OLD-VINE PARCEL ROOTED IN CHALK.

Then there is the vintage.

2018 – a generous, concentrated and highly regarded Champagne year.

Then there is the winemaking.

Oak fermentation, spontaneous yeasts and minimal intervention.

And finally, there is the maturation.

AN EXTRAORDINARY 67 MONTHS ON LEES!

At $306 per bottle, this is a serious Champagne.

But it is also a remarkable opportunity to discover one of the most exciting young estates in the Côte des Blancs.

For anyone who loves great Chardonnay, exceptional grower Champagne or wines that reveal the extraordinary individuality of their vineyards, this is a magnificent bottle.

GRAND CRU AVIZE. OLD-VINE CHARDONNAY. SINGLE-VINEYARD TERROIR. 67 MONTHS ON LEES.

2018 Les Frères Mignon Terroir d'Avize – a seriously exciting Champagne we are delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Les Frères Mignon

• Wine: Terroir d'Avize Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

• Vintage: 2018

• Region: Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France

• Village: Avize Grand Cru

• Growers: Florent and Julien Mignon

• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

• Vineyard: Le Chemin de Paradis

• Soils: Chalk

• Vine Age: Mature vines

• Viticulture: Massal-selection Chardonnay plantings

• Fermentation: Oak barrels

• Oak Vessels: Approximately 228–500 litres

• Winemaking: Minimal intervention, unfined and unfiltered

• Lees Ageing: 67 months for documented releases

• Dosage: Extra Brut; approximately 0.8–1.6 g/L across documented disgorgements

• Alcohol: Approximately 13%

• RRP: $306 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Lobster, scallops, turbot, roast chicken, mushrooms, truffles and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 10–12°C

• Glassware: Generous Champagne or white wine glass

• Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar carefully for further development