Jeb Dunnuck om:
Champagne Les Fortes Terres Extra Brut
Named for the lieu-dit in the village of Cuisles, the 2018 Champagne Les Fortes Terres Brut is entirely Meunier and, in fact, was the first entirely Meunier wine of the house. Elegant and pillowy, with crystalline saline accents throughout, it pours a medium-straw color and offers aromas of golden peaches, ripe raspberry, flinty wet stone, and cooling spearmint. Medium to full-bodied, the mousse is refined and accentuates the wine’s mineral persistence, with a long, mouthwatering finish with notes of white pepper. It trades in the house’s generally broad shoulders, with a sporty and refined structure, as well as lively tension throughout. For fans of these wines, it should be noted that while it doesn’t offer the depth we are accustomed to seeing (possibly due to the high-yielding vintage), it’s an exceptional offering from Cedric Mousse and his team, with the potential to age a decade or more. Drink 2025-2035. A mere 0.5 grams per liter of dosage, and disgorged January 2023. 93/100
