Minière F&R

The Domaine Minière F&R is located in Hermonville, in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, northwest of Reims, where vines have been cultivated since the 12th century. Founded in 1919 by Alfred Minière, the Domaine has preserved an outstanding viticultural heritage for four generations. Since 2005, brothers Frédéric and Rodolphe Minière have led the estate: Frédéric, trained at Domaine Jacques Selosse, oversees winemaking, while Rodolphe tends the vineyards with an approach grounded in sustainability and artisanal authenticity.

The vineyards stretch across a bright, well-exposed hillside, where loamy-sandy and clay-sandy soils force the roots to dig deep, yielding wines of density and minerality. The estate covers 2 hectares of Chardonnay, 1.5 hectares of Pinot Noir, and the rest Pinot Meunier, with an average vine age of 45 years and some plots of ungrafted vines. Viticulture is organic and sustainable, with natural cover crops, organic fertilization, and manual soil work. No chemical treatments are used: the Minière brothers favor gentle, natural methods to preserve soil vitality and ecological diversity.

In the cellar, the Minière style is defined by the exclusive use of oak barrels of various origins and sizes. After pressing, the musts ferment in barrique and remain 6–8 months on the lees, with bâtonnage adjusted to each vintage. Malolactic fermentation is avoided to retain freshness and tension, while the wines age 5–6 years for the non-vintage cuvées and over 10 years for the millésimes. The result is a collection of Champagnes of great finesse, depth, and precision, expressing both champenois spirit and modern sensibility.