The Launois family calls Le Mesnil-sur-Oger home, the heart of the Côte des Blancs, where generations have grown Grand Cru Chardonnay. Contraste #1 is a deliberate break from that habit - a trip to the Ardre Valley west of Reims in search of something entirely different: Meunier.
Expert's Description
Paul Launois Contraste #1 is a Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France made from 100% Meunier, bottled at 12.5% ABV.
Julien and Sarah Launois founded the house in 2015, naming it after their son Paul. The family's 6.5 hectares of Grand Cru vines lie in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, close to the famous Clos de Mesnil plots - but for the Contraste series they source grapes from a completely different place: the Ardre Valley, where Meunier grows on clay-limestone and clay-marl soils along the river. Contraste #1 is built on the 2019 harvest, fermented spontaneously with the wine's own wild yeasts and vinified 57% in steel and 43% in oak, before ageing 24 months on the lees. The low dosage - Extra Brut - lets the grape and the terroir speak for themselves.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Fresh and lively, with an elegant bouquet of yellow fruit and flowers.
Palate
Long and finely drawn, with a discreet, salty minerality that gives a refined, harmonious character.
Finish
Persistent, with the minerality the last thing to fade.
Serving & Food Pairing
Serve at 8-10°C in a champagne glass or tulip. Contraste #1 makes a natural aperitif, but also pairs nicely with shellfish, fish and white poultry.
Specifications
Name: Contraste #1
Producer/Champagne House: Paul Launois
Region/Country: Vallée de l'Ardre, Champagne, France
Appellation/Classification: Champagne AOC
Grape Variety(ies): Meunier 100%
Vintage: Non-vintage (NV), base vintage 2019
ABV: 12.5%
Size: 75 CL
Dosage: Extra Brut
Method: Traditional Method
Oak Ageing: Partial, 43% in oak
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 8-10°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Champagne Glass
Flavour Profile
Elegant · Mineral · Finely Drawn · Terroir-Driven
Did You Know?
Paul Launois is actually a Chardonnay specialist from the Côte des Blancs - the Contraste series is the house's deliberate experiment with Meunier from a completely different terroir, hence the name.
See our full range of Champagne
