A single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs from the wind-exposed Premier Cru terroir of Cuis, where chalk-rich soils and cooler conditions bring exceptional tension, linearity and mineral precision to Meunier. Unlike the more rounded and fruit-forward styles often found in Montagne de Reims or the broader, softer expressions of the Vallée de la Marne, this site-driven wine shows brighter red fruit, saline energy and a focused, energetic finish that reflects the purity of its origin.
Style
A terroir-driven Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs, showcasing the depth and structure of Pinot Noir while retaining freshness and precision. Expressive, vinous, and gastronomic.
Vineyard
Sourced from chalk-rich vineyards with some clay influence, providing structure and minerality. Well-exposed slopes and low yields enhance ripeness, concentration, and terroir expression.
Winery
Fermented in stainless steel and oak barrels, combining precision with texture and depth. Aged approximately 24–36 months on lees.
Production
Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs. Extra Brut, approximately 2–4 g/L dosage.
Nose / Palate
Raspberry, wild strawberry, citrus zest, subtle spice, and light toast. Structured and vinous, with fresh acidity, fine mousse, red fruit, mineral and brioche notes, leading to a long, precise finish.
Cuis is a historic Premier Cru village in the Côte des Blancs, situated just south of Cramant. Although it is best known for Chardonnay, the village also has a small but distinctive tradition of growing Pinot Noir and Meunier, making it an interesting and less predictable terroir within the Côte des Blancs.
The vineyards lie on the eastern slopes of the Côte des Blancs, with chalk-rich soils mixed with clay and marl. Compared with the Grand Cru villages further north, Cuis generally produces Chardonnay with a slightly lighter and more linear profile, marked by freshness, citrus and mineral precision.
Cuis Chardonnay typically shows lemon, grapefruit, green apple, white flowers and fresh almond, with a firm chalky structure and a distinctly saline finish. The wines often have a bright, energetic acidity that makes them particularly attractive when young, while the best examples gain greater texture and complexity with bottle age.
Historically, Cuis has been valued as one of the southern gateways to the Côte des Blancs. Its position and cooler character allow Chardonnay to retain freshness even in warmer vintages, while the chalk provides the mineral backbone associated with the region.
At its best, Cuis combines the precision of Côte des Blancs Chardonnay with a more delicate and energetic personality — less broad than Cramant, less powerful than Avize, but highly expressive in its freshness, salinity and linear mineral character.
Les Côtes au Vent is a distinctive Premier Cru vineyard site of Dhondt-Grellet, known for producing a more structured and vinous expression of Pinot Noir. The name refers to the site’s exposure to the wind, an important element in Champagne that helps moderate ripening and preserve freshness.
For Dhondt-Grellet, this parcel is part of the domaine’s philosophy of expressing individual vineyard sites rather than blending away their differences. The wine reflects the character of the site through its natural tension, precision and mineral definition.
The Pinot Noir combines red berries, citrus peel and subtle floral notes with a more savoury, mineral character. On the palate, it is energetic and linear, with fine structure, pronounced freshness and a distinctly saline finish.
Les Côtes au Vent demonstrates the versatility of Dhondt-Grellet’s terroirs: a Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs with freshness, structure and mineral precision, where Pinot Noir expresses itself through elegance and tension rather than sheer power.
2021 was one of the coolest and most challenging vintages in Champagne, marked by severe spring frost, a cool and exceptionally wet growing season, and strong disease pressure. Yields were among the lowest in decades, making careful vineyard selection particularly important.
For Meunier from Cuis, the cool conditions are particularly interesting. Cuis is a Premier Cru village in the Côte des Blancs, better known for Chardonnay, so Meunier from this terroir is already an unusual and distinctive expression. The 2021 vintage emphasises the variety’s freshness, acidity and mineral character rather than ripeness and weight.
Expect a profile of pear, citrus, white flowers and subtle spice, with vibrant acidity, saline freshness and a more linear, energetic structure. The cooler year gives the Meunier less of the ripe, round fruit associated with warmer vintages and more tension and precision.
