Veuve Clemence Mesnil-Sur Oger Blanc Blancs

It has been a while since I’ve opened a Clemence. A favorite of mine & Sofia once upon a time. Still drink it, just not as often as I have moved to mostly Extra Brut. This is a Brut at 8g. Excellent Champagne & value at $44.99.

I believe there are only two resellers you can acquire it, one east coast & one west-K&L. You have to buy it pretty quickly once they get their container. It took several yrs building that relationship as Launois is careful about who they let resell their cuvées. In fact, it is even difficult to get in France. K&L has standing orders from some French citizens they ship back to France once they receive it. Kinda crazy.

The palate has nice mousse with lively acidity and micro oxygenation. Lime/lemon pulp w/ zest, stone fruits-white dominant, grapefruit w/ pith, bruised red/golden apples, Bosc pear, caramel, vanillin, some yeast, baguette crust, white spice, gritty, grey volcanics, chalky bits, limestone marl, oyster shells, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers with a little greens mixed in, very good acidy, well; made/balanced/tensioned with a smartly polished, elegant finish that lasts minutes and land on excellent minerality.

If you get to Champagne, visit. They have a huge museum of champagne/wine artifacts that date back to BC. My two pics do not show its enormity. They are about 35-40 minutes south of Reims.

They are the only producer I know of that places a rubber casket attached to the bottom of their corks. So, next to never do their cuvées have cork taint.

Enjoying it with the Jasper Hill Farms - Willoughby, buttery washed soft white cheese. Try with Rainbow Crisp crackers or warm baguette. Also, on apples with and w/o honey.

Happy Heavenly Anniversary, Sofia. ❤️

We enjoyed a number of Launois over the years entertaining & celebrating. We even visited the property in 2005, I think 05. They have an amazing wine/champagne museum with all sorts of artifacts. Maybe, one of the best. It is extensive & large.

Sofia also loved clouds and photographed them often.

So good & still such an extreme value.

Santa put some more under the tree for me.

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁🎅⛄️🌟❄️🥂

This N/V Blanc is truly one of our favorites. On its own a 94 but, with an intermittent splash of white burgundy and caramel, Granny Smith apple, near perfect!

I’ve always wanted to this paring and last night it became reality. 🤩 😳 🍏

Been awhile. I love this cuvée. Certainly one of my favorite blancs and favorite for its quality & Its price point.

If you can receive shipments from CA retailers, you need to order the widow (translated) from K&L Wine Merchants. For $45, it seriously over delivers.

Reposting this so the guy that hacked into Delectable via one of their other entities can give me a false like on it. 🤣

Happy Friday! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Previous notes will stand.

Photos of; one of their Grand Cru vineyards, House of Launois and two views of their enormous Champagne museum.

It is only for variety that I drink any other N/V Blanc de Blanc Grand Gru Champange. For just under $45, this is extremely hard to beat.

This is my style, primarily reductive with just the right amount of oxidative characteristics.

The nose is fresh & ripe with green & golden apple, very, ripe pineapple, mango, ripe green melon, lemon & lime zest, excellent white spice, cream brulee w/ burnt top, light, salted caramel, touch of fresh herbs, pronounced chalkiness, grey volcanics, sea fossils, saline, bread dough, baguette crust, limestone with spring flowers, yellow lilies and jasmine.

The palate is ripe, lush, lively & dazzling fresh. Shows gentle, beautiful mousse & micro oxygenation. Ripe with green & golden apple, very, ripe pineapple, mango, ripe green melon, lemon & lime zest, kiwi, grapefruit w/ a hint of sugar, white peach, honeycomb, excellent white spice with just the right even medium heat, cream brulee w/ burnt top, bruised Bosc pear, lemon meringue, vanilla bean, light, salted caramel, nougat, silvered almonds, touch of fresh herbs, pronounced chalkiness, grippy grey volcanics, sea fossils, saline, bread dough, baguette crust, limestone with spring flowers, yellow lilies and jasmine. The acidity is lively & simply perfect. The long, rich, well polished & balanced, finishes gently & persistently on the palate with soft spice in the long set.

If you can receive wine shipments from K&L Wine Merchants in SF, you owe it to yourself to order some bottles of this cuvée. They are the only retailer in the US Launois allows to rep their cuvées. Guarantee you won’t regret it.

Wine that bridges the palate from the end of white cheeses to vinaigrette salad.

Photos of, one of their Grand Cru Vineyards, House of Launois, two pics of their extensive Champagne tool & artifacts museum.

10-10 T halftime, it could be worse.

Halftime Champagne. If you like a reductive Blanc de Blanc, you’ll be hard pressed to find better at just under $45.

Go 9ers. Cheers! 🍾🥂

Halftime show lived up to all the hype it received!

To borrow a page from @Anthony Lombardi postings, today Eddie Money passed away @ 70 years of age. Too soon!

So many childhood memories to his music. Was he the GOAT of Rock N Roll? Not exactly. But, he left his mark none the less. I find it’s memories that make music & wine greater.

So Eddie took his “Ticket to Paradise” and got himself “Home Tonight!” For all the great music and memories, I raise a glass of this appropriately choicen Champagne because of its bottling designation and say, cheers to Eddie Money. RIP Eddie. 💰 🎷 🎸 🎶🥂

Henrik had this 7 years ago