Meurville

A friend of ours arrived last night, so today we drove over to Meurville. It’s a small but beautiful village tucked away in the vineyards about 9km from Bar-Sur-Aube, a 25 minute drive for us.

We wanted to visit a couple of small Champagne houses we knew there. We had not called ahead, but wanted to just drop by and see if we could do a degustation.

We rang the bell at the first one, Jérome Cothias, but no answer. However, another potential client had arrived, so she said she would telephone the number on the door. ‘5 minutes and I will arrive’, was the answer. We used the time to practice a bit more french on the lady.
Before long we were sitting in their rather chaotic tasting room, I say that, as there were bits and pieces everywhere – old advertising boards, Champagne paraphernalia, a display cart now full of a range of boxed bottles and glasses covered in hearts for valentines. I love these little boutique producers, that work so hard and have to know a bit about everything. Not just making wine, but also selling and marketing their wines. We have bought from Cothias before and particularly like their Rosé de Saingnée.

Florence, the lady who had come out of the vineyard to do the tasting for us, offered us their nature to try. This has no dosage in it, so far less sugar, which is becoming more appealing to many nowadays. I have to say I prefer my Champagne with the dosage.
We tried a couple more, then made our decisions. They sell reasonably priced Magnums, which we both bought.

The second producer was not available, which was probably good, as we had already purchased about a dozen bottles.

It was a gorgeous sunny afternoon, and I’d popped a little picnic in the car, so we drove up to a local point de vue and enjoyed eating and chatting overlooking the vines. Idyllic.

The vineyard closest to us in this direction has been ‘grubbed-up’. That means they will be replanting it this year.