Notes:
Cpage: 80% Meunier, 20% Pinot Noir
Assemblage: Perpetual blend 2003-2021
Village/Vyd: Cuisles, Jonquery, Chtillon-sur-Marne
Malo: Yes
levage: Stainless steel
Sur Latte: 18+ Months
Dgorgement: 7/11/2023
Dosage: 2g/L
Producer: Champagne Moussé Fils, now known as Famille Moussé, is one of the leading grower estates in the Vallée de la Marne. The family has cultivated vineyards in Cuisles since 1923, with fourth-generation vigneron Cédric Moussé assuming responsibility for the estate in 2003. Since then, he has transformed the domaine into one of Champagne's most progressive growers, emphasizing sustainable viticulture, low-intervention winemaking, and a deep commitment to Pinot Meunier. The estate farms approximately 14 hectares, almost entirely within the villages of Cuisles, Jonquery, and Châtillon-sur-Marne, where Meunier has historically excelled. Vineyard work follows organic principles, with cover crops, biodiversity, and minimal chemical inputs encouraging healthy soils and balanced vines. In the cellar, Cédric favors precision over manipulation. Fermentations proceed naturally, malolactic fermentation is allowed to occur, sulfur additions are kept modest, and the wines are bottled with restrained dosage to preserve freshness and site expression. Rather than relying on reserve wines blended to achieve a fixed house profile, several of the domaine's cuvées—including Eugène—are built from a perpetual reserve system begun in 2003, allowing each release to carry both the freshness of the current harvest and the complexity accumulated over two decades. The result is a range of Champagnes that combine richness, energy, and remarkable transparency while highlighting the quality Pinot Meunier can achieve when treated as a principal variety rather than a blending component.
Vineyard: Eugène is sourced from estate vineyards in Cuisles, Jonquery, and Châtillon-sur-Marne, villages situated on the northern slopes of the Vallée de la Marne where Pinot Meunier has long been the dominant grape variety. The vineyards are planted primarily on green clay over chalk and limestone, soils that retain sufficient moisture during dry growing seasons while maintaining excellent drainage. These conditions consistently produce Meunier with generous fruit, vibrant acidity, and notable mineral tension. The vines average more than forty years of age, naturally limiting yields while increasing concentration. Rather than expressing a single parcel, Eugène represents the identity of these three villages through the lens of a perpetual reserve, preserving characteristics from multiple harvests while remaining firmly rooted in the Marne Valley terroir. Pinot Noir contributes additional structure and length, complementing the generosity of Meunier without overshadowing it.
Winemaking: Eugène is produced from approximately 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir. The wine is built around a perpetual reserve initiated in 2003, with each new harvest incorporated into the solera-style system before bottling. Fermentation and élevage take place in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts, preserving freshness and varietal purity rather than introducing oak influence. Full malolactic fermentation softens the wine's natural acidity while maintaining balance. Following bottling, the wine spends approximately 18 to 20 months on its lees, developing additional texture before disgorgement. Dosage remains firmly within the Extra Brut range, varying slightly by disgorgement but generally between 0 and 2 g/L, allowing the fruit, chalk-derived minerality, and autolytic complexity to remain the defining elements of the finished wine. The perpetual reserve contributes additional depth and consistency while ensuring each release retains the energy of the most recent harvest.
Food Pairing: Pair with pork rillettes, pâté de campagne, roast chicken, grilled pork loin, mushroom tart, roasted quail, Comté, Gruyère, or aged Gouda. The wine's combination of Meunier richness, vibrant acidity, and restrained dosage also complements charcuterie, roasted root vegetables, shellfish, and dishes featuring toasted nuts or brown butter.
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