Apollonis Champagne Monodie Meunier 2013 Vielles Vignes

Champagne Apollonis Authentic Meuniere Brut Tradition is our house Champagne which is sourced from the superb independent producer - Michel Loriot. Michel inherited the family heritage of creating world class champagne and along with his partner Martine Pierson, settled on the vineyard in 1977 with a small gathering of vines. The small Estate of approximately 15 hectares is situated in Festigny, a small village in the Marne Valley. Michel incorporated his passion for music directly into his Champagne vocation by playing carefully selected music to his vines to help prevent diseases and open up the capacity of the grapes. Since 2011, Michel Loriot champagnes have also been aged in the caves with music. The vines used to make the Champagne are mainly Pinot Meunier with a little Chardonnay and Michel ensures that the Champagne is produced using only the grapes from their vineyard. They are a Recoltant Manipulant as opposed to a Negociant manipulant (someone who buys grapes from Farmers). The flavours in this Champagne are superb. Crisp, dry and biscuity with long balanced flavours. Fresh and tingly on the palate with a lovely long and refreshing aftertaste. The fruit is a subtle blend of reserve wines from several harvests. This Champagne is great value for money and is far better than some of the known branded Champagnes. This is made from 100% Pinot Meunier which is probably the least known but most widely planted Champagne grape - thick red skin to protect from frost damage - and this grape, we believe, gives the very best flavours. Just outstanding.