Description
The 2018 Mailly Brut Millésime is a powerful and structured Champagne that captures the solar richness of the 2018 vintage. Produced by the unique Mailly Grand Cru cooperative the only house to source 100% of its fruit from a single Grand Cru village.
This wine represents the pinnacle of Pinot Noir-dominant blending from the northern slopes of the Montagne de Reims.
The Craft: Grand Cru Precision
The 2018 vintage was exceptionally warm, leading to ripe, healthy fruit. Mailly’s winemaking team used this richness to create a wine of significant depth and low-dosage clarity.
The Blend: A classic Mailly composition of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.
Sourcing: The fruit is drawn from specific named plots (Les Godats près Romont, Les Villiers, and Sous la Ville) known for their exceptional acid/sugar balance.
Vinification: 8.8% of the blend was vinified in oak casks to add broadness and spice. The rest was fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation.
Aging: Aged for approximately six years on lattes in the estate’s traditional chalk cellars.
Low Dosage: Disgorged with a very low dosage of just 2.6 g/L, technically making it an Extra Brut.
The Appearance: Brilliant gold with a fine, persistent mousse.
The Nose: Fragrant and floral. It leads with violets and lilac, followed by deeper notes of dried pear, saffron, and warm brioche.
The Palate: Ripe and structured. Due to the warmth of the 2018 vintage, it tastes less dry than its 2.6 g/L dosage suggests. It features a creamy mid-palate with layers of cooked pear and citrus, underpinned by a distinct chalky minerality.
The Finish: Long and balanced, characterized by a saline-tinged, stony finish that is a hallmark of the Mailly terroir.
