Lot presentation

Fins lieux n°5 Mesnil sur Oger Grand Cru Extra-Brut Pehu Simonet 2016

The wine

The Chardonnay vines flourish on the Verzenay terroir, where chalky soil infuses the cuvée with exceptional minerality. Each plot enjoys a nice exposure to the sun at the end of the day, ideal for grapes to ripen. All processes, both in the vineyard and in the winery, are guided by organic farming and agroforestry principles. To fully reflect the terroir in the winery, vinification is conducted in the purest Champagne tradition, with little intervention and using native yeasts. Malolactic fermentation is only partly completed.
With a delicate golden colour and fine effervescence, the bouquet reveals a harmonious balance of citrus, apple and apricot aromas, complemented by light notes of lemon and honey. On the palate, this powerful Champagne offers plenty of liveliness, leading to a fresh, fruity and deliciously long finish.

About the Producer Pehu Simonet

Located in the heart of Verzenay (Montagne de Reims), the Pehu Simonet estate spans 7.5 hectares of vineyards, producing around 40,000 bottles annually. The Pehu family has been run by four generations of the same family, and David Pehu has been managing the estate since 1995. Despite its understated profile in France, this family-run property exports nearly 90% of its Champagne. The cuvées stem from grand crus, with 5 hectares in Verzenay, Verzy, Mailly-Champagne, and Sillery, with one exception?–?a premier cru from Villers-Marmery. In the past, David sold his premier cru Chardonnay grapes to the wine merchants, but he now vinifies them himself to create his "Fins Lieux No. 7 Blanc de Blancs" cuvée.
The winemaking process involves fermentation in either oak casks or stainless-steel vats, depending on the wine. Malolactic fermentation is deliberately avoided to preserve the wines’ fresh, vibrant character?–?a signature of the house. With ripe fruit and precise dosage (a maximum of 5 grams for "Face Nord", and between 1.5 and 3 grams for the grands crus and the premier cru), the wines are perfectly balanced. Though still a hidden gem, this winemaker is already listed in a several prestigious hotels and is one to watch.