Champagne Le Mesnil is not a single grower, but rather an excellently run cooperative based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the best villages in the Côte des Blancs. The wines are all of Grand Cru status and given a minimum of three years’ aging on the lees. Of the two top vintage-dated cuvées, Prestige is entirely from Le Mesnil vineyards, while Sublime draws also from vineyards in the neighboring villages of Oger, Cramant, and Chouilly. These wines offer a very high level of quality for a reasonable price.
The co-op was established in 1937 and is currently under the guidance of winemaker Gilles Margue, who joined the winery in 2001 and was promoted in 2005. He holds a national diploma in enology and has worked internationally in California, New Zealand, and South Africa. Gilles has eschewed all chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides and insists on low yields—going so far as to limit the number of buds per cane.
