Tasting Notes
By the time Suenen took the keys at his family domaine, it had acquired vines throughout the Marne. Early in the piece, Aurélien judged that it would be impossible for him to work the entire domaine as meticulously as he wanted. So, with one exception, he sold the northern plots in the Vallée de la Marne and Montagne de Reims. That he kept hold of La Grande Vigne speaks volumes about the quality of this site. La Grande Vigne is a 0.21-hectare plot of ungrafted Meunier in a stunning terroir in Montigny-sur-Vesle (part of the Massif de Saint-Thierry).
This small parcel of 50-year-old vines combines deep sandy, silty soils of the Thanetian era—similar to those in Merfy and Gueux—with a flat, north-western exposure. This terroir revels in Meunier’s spicy side. Raised in a single 600-litre demi muid for 10 months, the 2017 spent 68 months on less until disgorgement, with 3 g/L dosage in June 2023. It’s tightly wound, as you would expect of a young Suenen wine, while the aromas and flavours blend spicy, dark mineral edginess with the warmth of toasted sourdough and some sweet floral notes. This gorgeous wine starts with beautiful precision and explodes on the chiselled, umami-like finish. - Importer Note
An increased focus on the environment and an awareness of sustainable agriculture have given rise to a huge increase in organic viticulture. This is an exciting area of growth in the world of wine, and if done right, one that leads to better wines, healthier vines and soils, and less stress on the earth.
But what makes a wine organic?
Organic wine refers to a method of farming, rather than winemaking. It all starts in the vineyard, where vignerons and viticulturalists no longer use synthetic or systemic pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers. Instead they opt for organic compounds such as copper and sulfur, which can help reduce he pressure of disease and pests. This results in much better vine and soil health, with no unwanted chemicals leeching into local rivers and waterways through run-off.
Organic farming is not to be confused with Biodynamic farming which, although similar, is a different approach and requires many more specific practices. These practices such as specific soil preparations, and lunar-cycle harvesting are not necessary to achieve an organic system.
It is important to note that organic wines can still have sulphur dioxide added to them. Sulphur is an organic compound, and therefore winemakers are free to add it to their wines, and still achieve organic certification. Winemakers will often add sulphur to help stabilise the wine and protect it from oxygen come bottling time. The wine will still be completely organic, assuming the proper farming practices have been adhered to.
| Product Type | Wine Sparkling Champagne |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Sub Region | Montagne de Reims |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |