Champagne Minière F & R

Champagne house in Hermonville, Montagne de Reims.

Village: Hermonville
Region: Montagne de Reims
Cuvées in the guide: 10

Champagne‌ Minière F & R is a family business in Hermonville, founded in 1919 by Alfred Minière and currently run by the fourth generation, brothers Frédéric and Rodolphe Minière, who have been producing their own champagnes since 2005.

History and Terroir

Viticulture in Hermonville goes back to the 12th century, but the modern estate began in 1919. The brothers chose not to sell all their grapes but to bottle their terroir, with a philosophy of respect for nature and precision. Their vineyards cover almost 8 hectares in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, on south/south-east facing slopes with well-draining, mineral loamy-sandy soils. The average age of the vines is about 50 years, and there are also plots with old, ungrafted cepes (franc de pied), dating from before the phylloxera crisis.

Approach and Vinification

The champagnes are fermented and aged exclusively in oak barrels, a method Frédéric Minière learned during his apprenticeship with Anselme Selosse. Key features of their approach are:

No malolactic fermentation: This is blocked to preserve freshness and acidity.
Bâtonnage: Regular stirring of the lees to develop complexity and texture.
Long ageing: The champagnes undergo prolonged ageing on the lees, often at least 60 months for some cuvées, followed by a rest period of at least 9 months after disgorgement.
Plot-by-plot selection: Vinification is carried out per plot and per barrel to preserve the individual characteristics of the terroir.

Champagnes and Range

The range includes blend cuvées as well as single-vineyard and vintage champagnes, with prices ranging from about €56 to €147 per bottle. Well-known cuvées include:

Influence: A blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay.
Blanc Absolu: A Blanc de Blancs from old Chardonnay plots.
Les Voirmissa: A Blanc de Noirs vintage cuvée.
La Vigne à Alfred: A Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Meunier.
Franc de Pieds: A vintage cuvée from old, ungrafted cepes.
Brut Zero: A zero-dosage version of their base blend.

Production is about 15,000 bottles per year, with exports to North America, Europe and Oceania.

Cuvées by Minière F & R

Minière Blanc Absolu

Cuvée of the Les Bruts range.

Minière Brut Zéro

Brut Nature

Zero-dosage cuvée from the Les Bruts range.

Minière Francs de Pied

Single-plot cuvée.

Minière Influence

Cuvée of the Les Bruts range.

Minière La Vigne à Alfred

Single-plot cuvée.

Minière Les Moineaux

Single-plot cuvée.

Minière Les Pièces

Cuvée of the Les Millésimes range.

Minière Les Voirmissa

Single-plot cuvée.

Minière Rosé Influence

Rosé

Rosé of the Les Bruts range.

Minière Symbiose

Cuvée of the Les Millésimes range.

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