Champagne Guy Charlemagne

Guy Charlemagne’s Vieilles Vignes Mésnillésime 2015 is a distinguished vintage Blanc de Blancs produced entirely from old-vine Chardonnay grown in the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Part of the estate’s limited Mésnillésime collection, the wine is designed to reveal a specific expression of Le Mesnil through mature vines and the character of a single growing season. The domaine’s old vines average approximately 58 years of age and are rooted in the village’s exceptionally chalk-rich soils.

The 2015 vintage delivered a warm, concentrated expression of Chardonnay, balanced by the naturally firm acidity and pronounced minerality of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The wine was vinified partly in oak barrels and did not undergo malolactic fermentation, helping preserve its freshness, tension, and pure mineral character. It spent approximately six years aging in the estate’s cellars before disgorgement and was finished with a very low dosage of around 3 grams per liter, placing it firmly in the Extra Brut category.

In the glass, it displays a pale golden color with subtle green highlights and a fine, persistent mousse. The bouquet is intense and refined, opening with candied lemon, ripe apple, pear, acacia honey, and white flowers. With air, deeper notes of brioche, toasted almond, flint, gentle spice, and a delicate smoky or iodine-like character begin to emerge.

The palate is rich and finely textured while remaining precise and energetic. Ripe orchard fruit and candied citrus are layered with pastry, almond, subtle oak, and chalky minerality. Bright acidity keeps the wine fresh and beautifully balanced, leading to a long, elegant finish marked by citrus zest, salinity, flint, and a delicate vanilla note.

This is a serious, gastronomic Champagne that can be enjoyed now for its combination of richness and freshness, or cellared further as its brioche, nut, and mineral characteristics continue to develop. Serve it with oysters, caviar, scallops, lobster, roasted turbot, sole meunière, poultry with cream and morels, or aged Comté.

95 Points — Wine Enthusiast: A blend of several old-vine parcels from across Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, this wine has benefited from seven years of aging as it begins to approach maturity. Its low dosage highlights citrus and apple flavors alongside the intense acidity of Grand Cru Chardonnay. This Champagne has the structure to continue aging beautifully.

Review published December 2019.

90 Points — Vinous “The 2015 Mesnillésime Vieilles Vignes is another attractive wine in this range, done in a light-bodied, ethereal style. Dried lemon peel, crushed flowers, chamomile and dried herbs show the gentle patina of age.”

Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Classification: Grand Cru
Cuvée: Vieilles Vignes Mésnillésime
Vintage: 2015
Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
Vinification: Partially aged in oak; no malolactic fermentation
Dosage: Approximately 3 g/L
Lees Aging: Approximately six years
Bottle Size: 750ml
Serving Temperature: 48–54°F
Cellaring: Enjoy now or hold for further development.

Guy Charlemagne’s B.C. Origine Les Chétillons 2012 is an exceptionally rare, single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs from one of the most celebrated Chardonnay sites in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Produced entirely from Grand Cru Chardonnay, it represents the estate’s most traditional and uncompromising expression of the chalk-rich Côte des Blancs terroir.

The Charlemagne family farms nearly one hectare within Les Chétillons, divided among four parcels situated in Les Chétillons and Les Chétillons de Haut. The south- and east-facing vines were planted between 1970 and 1991 using massal selections. Their roots penetrate the vineyard’s exposed chalk, giving the finished Champagne its distinctive combination of concentration, firm structure, salinity, and intense mineral precision.

B.C. Origine is made according to a deliberately traditional cellar philosophy. The base wine is fermented in seasoned oak barrels, while malolactic fermentation is completely blocked to preserve acidity, tension, and freshness. Since the 1988 vintage, the cuvée has undergone its secondary fermentation and extended lees aging under natural cork rather than a metal crown cap—a labor-intensive technique known as tiré bouché liège. This slow maturation encourages remarkable depth, a refined texture, and complex smoky and toasted nuances without sacrificing the wine’s youthful energy.

The 2012 remained on its lees for approximately 12 years. Bottled in February 2013 and disgorged by hand in May 2025, the release was limited to roughly 2,000 bottles and marked the first time this vintage was offered in a standard 750ml format. It was finished with an Extra Brut dosage, allowing the purity of the Chardonnay and the character of the vineyard to remain firmly at the forefront.

In the glass, the wine is intense, precise, and deeply expressive. Aromas of lemon oil, crisp orchard fruit, dried citrus, green apple, and white flowers are layered with biscuit, almond, toasted bread, green tea, smoke, and subtle reductive notes. The palate is concentrated yet sharply defined, with a fine mousse, vibrant acidity, and a powerful chalk-driven backbone. Citrus, apple, pastry, roasted nuts, and gentle spice lead into a remarkably long, saline finish marked by flint, mouthwatering bitterness, and persistent mineral tension.

This is a serious, vinous Champagne best served in a white-wine or Burgundy-style glass rather than a narrow flute. It can be enjoyed now for its energy, concentration, and complex lees-aged character, though its structure and freshness suggest excellent potential for further bottle development.

Pair with caviar, oysters, lobster, seared scallops, langoustines, turbot, Dover sole, roasted poultry, creamy mushroom dishes, aged Comté, or other refined dishes that complement its richness and pronounced chalky minerality.

92 Points — Vinous:  “The 2012 Blanc de Blancs Les Chétillons is creamy, open-knit and very easy to like. Lemon confit, marzipan, spice and floral overtones capture all the exuberance and radiance of the year.”

Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Classification: Grand Cru
Vineyard: Les Chétillons
Cuvée: B.C. Origine
Vintage: 2012
Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
Fermentation: Seasoned oak barrels
Malolactic Fermentation: Blocked
Bottle Aging: Approximately 12 years on the lees under natural cork
Bottled: February 2013
Disgorged: May 2025
Production: Approximately 2,000 bottles
Alcohol: 12.5%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Serving Temperature: Approximately 48–54°F
Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar for continued development.

Guy Charlemagne | Les Coullemets — Mesnillésimes | Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut | Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne | 2016

Guy Charlemagne is a celebrated grower-producer based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — one of Champagne's most prestigious Grand Cru villages, renowned worldwide for producing Blanc de Blancs of extraordinary mineral precision, tension, and longevity. The estate's vineyards average 58–60 years of age and are planted with massal selections, contributing depth, concentration, and a strong sense of place. Guy Charlemagne uses extended bottle aging and slightly reduced pressure for its parcel wines, creating a fine mousse and elegant, creamy texture while preserving clarity and tension.

Les Coullemets is part of Guy Charlemagne's distinguished “Mesnillésimes” series — single-vineyard, single-vintage expressions of individual Le Mesnil lieux-dits that showcase the unique character of each parcel. Les Coullemets is produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in the chalk-rich soils of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, reflecting the naturally firm structure, mineral precision, and saline depth for which the village is celebrated.

The 2016 vintage in Champagne produced wines of exceptional freshness, tension, and aging potential. The bouquet opens with white flowers, crisp apple, citrus peel, and ripe pear, followed by fresh pineapple, brioche, toasted nuts, gentle spice, and a subtle smoky quality. On the palate, taut and energetic — bright acidity with a refined mousse and a pronounced chalky mineral core. Lemon, white peach, almond, and orchard fruit lead into a long, fresh finish marked by bitter citrus, salinity, and finely etched minerality. The Extra Brut dosage keeps the wine dry and focused, allowing the purity of the Chardonnay and the distinctive character of Les Coullemets to remain at the forefront. Expressive now, with the structure and concentration to develop further with additional bottle age.

Serve as a sophisticated aperitif or pair with oysters, caviar, lobster, crab, seared scallops, grilled sole, halibut with lemon butter, sushi, and mild creamy cheeses.

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne
• Cuvée: Les Coullemets (Mesnillésimes series)
• Classification: Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Appellation: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Grape: Chardonnay (100%)
• Vintage: 2016
• Vine Age: ~58–60 years; massal selections
• Alcohol: 12.5% ABV
• Serving: 48–54°F; enjoy now or cellar for further development
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2016

• Vinous — 91 pts: Laced with hints of lemon oil, chalk, mint and dried flowers. Light on its feet and vibrant — a classic Champagne from Mesnil. Bracing saline notes support the mid-palate and finish.

Important availability note:
The Guy Charlemagne Blanc de Blancs Grande Réserve Extra Brut Grand Cru, base 2019, is expected to arrive during the last week of August 2026. All other featured Guy Charlemagne Champagnes are currently in stock.

Crafted entirely from Chardonnay grown in the Grand Cru villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, this refined Blanc de Blancs captures the precision, chalky minerality, and elegant structure for which the Côte des Blancs is celebrated. Guy Charlemagne’s Grande Réserve is assembled with reserve wines to add depth and continuity, while the Extra Brut dosage preserves its dry, focused character. 

In the glass, it shows a pale golden color with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose is fresh and expressive, revealing lemon zest, crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, and crushed stone, followed by subtle notes of brioche, almond, and fresh pastry from extended lees aging. The palate is lively and finely textured, combining bright citrus fruit with a creamy mousse and a pronounced mineral core. The finish is long, clean, and saline, with lingering notes of chalk, lemon, and toasted hazelnut.

Elegant enough to serve as an aperitif yet structured enough for the table, this Champagne pairs beautifully with oysters, shellfish, sushi, smoked salmon, caviar, delicate white fish, and soft-ripened cheeses.

Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Champagne, France
Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
Villages: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger
Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
Dosage: Low dosage
Serving Temperature: 46–50°F
Bottle Size: 750ml