Who makes it
Claude Mandois runs Champagne Mandois as the ninth generation of the family. The house works with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, with Chardonnay at 40 percent and the two Pinots at equal shares. Oak and low dosage levels are part of the ageing approach.
Where it grows
The vineyards are around Pierry near Épernay. Pierry is also home to historical caves excavated beneath the village church in the late seventeenth century.
What they make
Brut Origine is delicate, youthful, tonic and straightforward, with citrus and exotic fruit aromas. Blanc de Noirs Brut is a vintage cuvée in the Blanc de Noirs style, the Champagne term for a white sparkling wine made from black grapes.
The wine has a deep golden colour flecked with amber. On the nose, Blanc de Noirs Brut 2018 shows aromas characteristic of Pinot Noir, including cherry eau de vie and stone fruits. The palate is rich and round, with peppery notes alongside candied fruits.