At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Champagne
- Appellation
- Côtes d'Épernay
- Village
- Moussy
- Main grapes
- Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay
- Signature wine
- Prémices Brut
- Defining feature
- Five generations of family stewardship
The Producer
Vineyard ownership at Champagne José Michel & Fils dates to 1847. The family is one of the oldest winegrowing families in Moussy. The house works from an artisanal approach to vine growing and winemaking, with cellar practices decided annually.
Place
Moussy is in the Côtes d'Épernay, near Épernay. The Côtes d'Épernay designation identifies the local appellation, while Champagne identifies the wider sparkling wine appellation. In Champagne, the traditional method includes a second fermentation in bottle and ageing on lees, the yeast sediment that can add brioche and pastry notes.
Wines
Prémices Brut is a nonvintage cuvée made from 70% Meunier and 30% Chardonnay. Clos Saint Jean Blanc de Blancs has a restrained, noble character. Special Club 2014 is the vintage cuvée in the range.
The three bottles occupy different positions: a nonvintage blend, a Blanc de Blancs, and a vintage Special Club. Blanc de Blancs means a sparkling wine made from white grapes, while the Prémices composition brings Meunier and Chardonnay together.
In The Glass
Special Club 2014 shows brioche, candied green apple, and orange blossom. Brioche in sparkling wine can come from lees ageing, when the wine rests with yeast sediment after its second fermentation. Candied green apple gives the aroma a sweetened fruit note, while orange blossom brings a floral note.
A Bottle To Understand It
Use Prémices Brut first. It is a nonvintage Brut made from Meunier and Chardonnay, so both grapes appear in one cuvée. Clos Saint Jean Blanc de Blancs and the vintage Special Club represent two different formats within the range.
Final Word
José Michel & Fils keeps its artisanal approach open to annual decisions in the cellar.