Champagne Minière F&R Absolu Cuvée Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV

The story of brothers Frédéric and Rodolphe Minière is one of patience and conviction. With nearly eight hectares in Hermonville, they could easily have pursued volume. Instead, they chose to focus only on their very best vines, isolating two hectares for production. Their approach is uncompromising: barrel fermentation for every wine, no malolactic fermentation, and aging that stretches well beyond Champagne’s norm.

Frédéric’s formative inspiration came in the late 1990s, when he worked two harvests alongside the legendary Anselme Selosse. It was there that he fell in love with the depth and complexity imparted by barrel aging, and where he recognized the profound benefits of organic farming. When their father retired in 2007, Frédéric and Rodolphe seized the opportunity to bring this philosophy home, establishing a domaine dedicated to crafting Champagnes of honesty, depth, and place.

The Absolu Cuvée Brut Blanc de Blancs NV is 100% Chardonnay from the fabled Les Grands Blancs plots. Vinified in a blend of younger and older oak barrels (40% under 4 years, 60% over 4 years), with no malolactic fermentation, the wine then spends six years on lees before being disgorged.

In the glass, it’s frank, complex, and brimming with tension. Aromas of citrus zest, crushed chalk, and white flowers unfold, accompanied by a subtle toasted note. The palate is precise and structured, offering bright acidity that recalls lemon and grapefruit before giving way to a finish that’s long, mineral, and chalky. There’s elegance here, but also honesty—a Champagne that delivers clarity and depth in every sip. This is Blanc de Blancs at its most exacting and refined—a wine that reminds us that patience, restraint, and vision always pay off.