An interesting counterpoint to the beautiful Bérêche Le Cran (2010) that we enjoyed last weekend, and a first foray for me with a 100% Pinot Meunier Champagne.
This edition of Rive Gauche is still young at this juncture. Several more years of cellaring should bring out more nuance.
Right now, it exhibits a bold attack with ripe, intense fruit. Yet there is a somewhat monolithic earthiness (typical to Pinot Meunier, I believe) that holds the wine back from invoking the emotional response that some of the other Bérêche cuvee's, like Rilly-La-Montagne and Le Cran, are able to.
Producer notes:
"From Mareuil-le-Port in Vallée de la Marne where the source vines were planted in 1969 on pure clay (no chalk) on a north-facing, late-ripening slope. Fermented with natural yeasts in barrels and aged for eight months on the lees before the tirage. (No malolactic). The vin clair is kept for three years under natural cork.
Disgorged as Extra Brut in October 2017, this release of Rive Gauche is based entirely on the 2014 vintage (but is not a vintaged Champagne). Dosage is 3 g/l."
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