Champagne Mailly
Today we share another house with incredible history. A premier Champagne house with that features access to many grand cru vineyards, the village of Mailly is said to derive its name from the Latin Malliusacum as grapes in this region were grown before the building of Reims Cathedral in the 13th Century. Mailly wines were much appreciated by the church and nobility and graced all of the finest tables from the Middle Ages onward. Mailly also contributed to the fortunes of Champagne in the 17th Century.
Today Mailly sources from over 80 winegrowers to craft their champagnes. The cellar itself is quite a sight to be seen. This vaulted cellar is part of a kilometre-long network of crayères that were dug from the chalk by the estate’s founding fathers over a period of more than 30 years. Working every winter from 1929 to 1965, with only pickaxes for tools, they created a cellar to store their wines at 12°C, buried 19 meters under the ground.
I adored their top wine, the 2011 Champagne Mailly ‘Les Echansons’ Champagne (OB, 94) which is rich and layered, with incredible finesse and chalky terroir. Learn more about this storied Champagne house at https://www.champagne-mailly.com Here is my review of the gorgeous 2011 Champagne Mailly ‘Les Echansons’ Champagne.
2011 Champagne Mailly ‘Les Echansons’ Champagne- The 2011 ‘Les Echansons’ blend of 75% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay all sourced from grand cru vineyards. Given 6G/L dosage, this is quite big with layers of marzipan and toasted hazelnut flavors that collide with rich orchard fruits on the palate. The length and generous texture here really entices, as the light dusting of salinity adds to the enjoyment. Fantastic now at the nine year mark, this glorious 2011 Champagne will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2036- 94