Mareuil is often touted as the top Premier Cru village for Champagne, growing some of the finest structured and richly complex pinot noir grapes the region has to offer, and considered by many top experts to be virtually indistinguishable from its Grand Cru cousin in Aÿ. With its southern-facing slopes, clay and chalk soils, and cooling influence from the Marne, the grapes develop with full flavors, whip-dry texture, and supreme elegance. The cepage here is 70% pinot noir, 20% chardonnay, and 10% pinot meunier, all pulled from other distinguished growers in the area. 

Juliette may have been born to a great grower family, but it was her tenacity and interest in learning all that she could about making Champagne that led her to oenology school in Beaune followed by stints at notable producers, such as Louis Latour in Bourgogne, G.D. Vajra in Piedmont, and Louis Roederer in Reims, close to her home. The natural next step was starting her own label, Domaine Les Monts Fournois, using her extensive knowledge and network of exquisite growers who farm some of the most legendary vineyards to source fruit for her bottlings.  The project has practically reached cult status already, with wine aficionados speaking in hushed tones about its greatness…as well as its scarcity.

This bottle is one of her inaugural releases – but there’s nothing “novice” or “beginner” about it. It sat for 75 months on the lees and is part of a miniscule production of only 5000 bottles. Her relentless passion for excellent Champagne shines through in this well-structured and energetic Premier Cru “De Luxe” Non-Vintage, offering up striking aromas, a vibrant mousse, and a mouthwatering texture. Notes of fresh orange blossom and lemon meringue pie lead the explosive front, followed with haste by slivered almond, salted lemon, ground coriander, lemongrass, summer peaches, salty sea spray, and a backbone of titillating acidity. With only 5.6 grams of dosage, it is steely yet crisp on the palate, filling the mouth with lively abandon, like a psychedelic dream carrying you from fleshy fruits to zesty citrus to explosive florals to spritzy ocean essences. This 93-point beauty is one to behold and enjoy endlessly – the only recommendation we have is to get ‘em while they’re hot…and this Champagne is going to be hot for a very, VERY long time. Mark my words.