A single-vineyard Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from three old-vine parcels in Les Chétillons, one of the established Chardonnay sites of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.
The 2018 Les Chétillons combines the natural ripeness of the vintage with the chalk, acidity, and linear structure characteristic of Le Mesnil.
Citrus, white peach and orchard fruit are joined by white flowers, chalk, almond and subtle brioche. The palate is concentrated but controlled, with fine mousse and a long saline-mineral finish.
Already expressive, but still young and capable of significant development.
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Côte des Blancs
Village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Classification: Grand Cru
Vineyard: Les Chétillons
Vintage: 2018
Producer: Pierre Péters
Cuvée: Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12% ABV
Dosage: 4.5 g/L
Fermentation: Stainless Steel
Malolactic Fermentation: No
Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
Les Chétillons is a historic vineyard situated in the Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, at the heart of the Côte des Blancs.
Pierre Péters produces this cuvée from three individual parcels of old Chardonnay vines, planted between approximately 1935 and 1960.
The three parcels are harvested and vinified separately before the final assemblage.
The domaine first produced Les Chétillons as an individual vineyard cuvée in 1971, decades before single-vineyard Champagne became as prominent as it is today.
The underlying chalk soils and old vines contribute to the wine's combination of concentration, acidity and pronounced mineral character.
Nose:
Lemon, citrus zest and white peach, followed by pear, white flowers and chalk. With air, subtle notes of almond, brioche and spice become more apparent.
Palate:
Concentrated but precise, with ripe citrus and orchard fruit supported by firm acidity. The generous character of 2018 provides volume through the mid-palate, while the absence of malolactic fermentation preserves freshness and structural tension.
Structure:
Medium-bodied, with fine mousse, firm acidity and considerable mineral definition. The low dosage keeps the finish dry and focused.
Finish:
Long and persistent, with citrus peel, chalk, almond and a distinctly saline character.
Les Chétillons occupies a very different position within the Pierre Péters range from Cuvée de Réserve.
Cuvée de Réserve expresses the domaine's broader Côte des Blancs identity through an assemblage of vineyards, harvests and reserve wines.
Les Chétillons does the opposite.
It isolates one vineyard, one vintage and one grape variety.
The 2018 comes entirely from old-vine Chardonnay in three parcels of Les Chétillons at Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.
Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, and malolactic fermentation is blocked, preserving acidity and maintaining the linear structure associated with the site.
The relatively low 4.5 g/L dosage further emphasizes the wine's dry, chalk-driven character.
2018 was a warm and generous growing season in Champagne, producing healthy grapes with good ripeness.
That character is evident in Les Chétillons through a slightly broader and more immediately expressive fruit profile than might be expected from a cooler vintage of Le Mesnil.
The important counterpoint is the wine's structure.
Old vines, chalk soils, low dosage, and the decision to avoid malolactic fermentation maintain acidity and tension despite the ripeness of the year.
The result is a Les Chétillons with both fruit generosity and the underlying mineral structure required for bottle development.
Drink: Now–2040+
Preferred Window: 2028–2038
The 2018 can be enjoyed now, but it remains young.
Opened today, expect a relatively youthful expression emphasizing lemon, white peach, orchard fruit, chalk, and acidity, with the autolytic and secondary characteristics still developing.
If you enjoy Blanc de Blancs Champagne with pronounced freshness and mineral tension, there is no need to wait.
For greater integration and complexity, I would prefer 2028 onward.
Over the following decade, the primary citrus and orchard fruit should gradually develop toward preserved lemon, brioche, toasted almond, hazelnut, beeswax, and more pronounced chalky and saline notes.
Well-stored bottles should continue to develop comfortably through the 2030s and potentially into the 2040s.
Serving Temperature: 10–12°C
I would avoid serving this excessively cold. A large Champagne or white Burgundy glass will show considerably more of the wine than a narrow flute.
In practical terms: drink now for fruit, chalk and tension; hold another 3–5 years for greater integration and secondary complexity.
The combination of low dosage, chalky minerality and concentration makes Les Chétillons particularly suited to refined seafood.
Recommended Pairings:
Osetra Caviar · Oysters · Scallops · Langoustines · Lobster · King Crab · Turbot · Dover Sole · Sea Bass · Sushi · Sashimi · Roast Chicken · Comté
Pair with Osetra caviar, langoustines, or simply prepared turbot.
The wine's acidity and chalky-saline character complement the natural salinity of seafood, while the concentration of old-vine Chardonnay provides sufficient weight for richer preparations.
For a serious Champagne drinker, I would serve this in a white Burgundy glass at approximately 11°C, rather than in a flute.
And within your Pierre Péters selection, the hierarchy is useful to explain:
Cuvée de Réserve — the house signature; multi-harvest, reserve-wine complexity and immediately accessible.
La Grande Réserve — selected Grand Cru assemblage with additional precision and depth.
Les Chétillons 2018 — the terroir wine; one vintage, one Grand Cru village, one vineyard and three old-vine parcels.
For the Odd Bins & Sommelier’s Rarities section, Les Chétillons is the bottle I would emphasize to the Champagne enthusiast. Its interest lies not in luxury branding, but in the specificity of its origin and its ability to develop with age.
