Champagne Paul Launois Monochrome #5 Blanc De Blancs NV

Whisky aficionados may well be familiar with the name Paul Launois, known for their exclusive limited releases of Ardnamurchan single malt, aged in casks sourced from this independent Champagne house.

Julien and Sarah Launois currently oversee 19 plots, totalling just over 6.5 hectares of Chardonnay vines in the Grand Cru Mesnil-sur-Oger. These vineyards have been meticulously tended by the Launois family for generations. Remarkably, it wasn't until 2015 that Julien and Sarah established Champagne Paul Launois, bearing the name of their son. Prior to this venture, the Launois family traditionally sold their grapes to their local co-operative.

Monochrome #5 is an exceptional Blanc de Blancs crafted exclusively from fruit harvested from the Launois family vineyards, including grapes from a location known as Haut d'Aillerand. Situated on a northeast-facing gentle slope with soft chalk soil, this site contributes a distinctive mineral and chalky character to the wine. The grapes are pressed as whole bunches using a traditional basket press. The resulting compacted mass of stems, skins, and pulp is then carefully loosened and redistributed with a pitchfork, a technique known as "La Retrousse." This method maximizes the extraction of additional juice without imparting tannins or excessive colour from the grape skins.

The must from the 2019 vintage forms the base wine, which undergoes fermentation in a combination of stainless steel tanks (89%) and barrels (11%), followed by malolactic fermentation. The assemblage of this non-vintage champagne includes 30% reserve wines, although this ratio may vary between releases. The wine was bottled in May 2020, disgorged in June 2022, and received a dosage of 1 gram per litre. This low dosage results in the champagne being classified as "Extra Brut."