According to their own reports, it seems that the Monmarthe family was present in Ludes, on the northern slopes of the Montagne de Reims, as early as 1737, as owners of land and vineyards. Nevertheless, it is necessary to reach 1930 for the creation of a real winery for the production of Champagne wines, thanks to Ernest Monmarthe who decided to become Récoltant Manipulant and give life to his brand, the homonymous Champagne Ernest Monmarthe. Ernst was succeeded by Léon with his wife Anne-Marie, who passed the baton to Guy and, therefore, by Guy to his son Jean-Guy Monmarthe, the architect of the definitive company takeoff. Jean-Guy, in fact, supported by his father, has revolutionized the production line, with the introduction of new cuvées, and, above all, has opened important export channels in Europe (first) and in the world (then).
Currently the winery owes 15 hectares of vineyards between Ludes (13) and the nearby Tassy (2), all classified Premier Cru and divided into 22 plots in which grow vines of Pinot Noir (35%), Chardonnay (35%) and Pinot Meunier (30%). The management of these vineyards is almost entirely manual, so much so that the harvest, which takes place on a single date, is carried out thanks to the coordinated work of over forty people. In addition, the winery belongs to the French section of the Independent Winemakers’ monitoring and this involves, among other things, the care of the vines and wines careful and truly ecological, the exclusive use of grapes bottled in their own cellar, and a concrete commitment to respect and enhancement of the wine traditions of their territory. In addition, the winery belongs to the French section of the Independent Winegrowers’ Movement and this involves, among other things, the truly ecological care of the vines and wines careful, the exclusive use of grapes bottled in their own cellar, a concrete commitment to respect and enhance the wine traditions of their territory. This approach has been carried out so effectively that the map has been assigned the Certificat de Haute Valeur Environnementale (Certificate of High Environmental Value).
From Chardonny and Pinot Noir grapes in equal parts, coming from predominantly calcareous-chalky soils, comes the Champagne Premier Cru Brut Privilège, one of the most popular of this House and, therefore, a real business card. These grapes, usually of three successive vintages, are harvested only at full ripeness and, after a delicate pressing, vinified in thermo-conditioned vats, where they also perform malolactic fermentation. The blend, which also includes 30% of reserve wines, ages on the lees for a minimum period of three years before the disgorging and the re-ripening with a dosage of 8 grams/liter. Another 6 months of rest in the cellar, with the mushroom cork, and the bottle is ready for marketing.
In the glass the wine has a very intense straw yellow color, almost golden, with a fine and persistent perlage, and with an olfactory spectrum that starts from gooseberry, quince, strawberry tree honey and croissant, with a side of kumquat, Conference pear, hawthorn and toasted hazelnut, with concluding echoes of flint and damp chalk. The mouthfeel is immediately creamy and, with the softening of the perlage, shows a good softness and a nice alternation between fresh-citric sensations and sapid-minerals sensations, all while yellow fruit and the mineral side returns and accompany the sip until a good length closure.
Rating: 90/100
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