Cult Le Mesnil Champagne for Under $40

Launois "Cuvée Réservée" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne ($39.99)

We are very fortunate to be the importer for this great cult producer of blanc de blancs in the famous village of Mesnil. Launois is the only Champagne I have sold to someone from Champagne to bring back to Champagne with them! It is that sought-after.

All-grand-cru, estate-grown Champagne doesn't get any better than this, but it is almost always more expensive. This is a wine of depth, finesse, and intrigue, yet it is about as easy as it gets to drink without engaging the gray matter at all. When we get it, it is always snapped up in a hurry... Don't wait and get disappointed!

— Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer

K&L Notes: This 100% estate grown, Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is made entirely with old Chardonnay selections from Mesnil, Cramant, and Oger. This is our number one most re-purchased Champagne, and it is often sold out! We have been working with Champagne Launois, located in the Grand Cru of Mesnil, for more than 16 years now, and they are our number one seller for good reason. Highly recommended.

Philip Roufail | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 01, 2025

The Launois "Cuvée Réserve" Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne is the all-time undisputed champion of K&L's Direct Import Champagne portfolio and our largest grower-producer. Founded in 1872, Launois is headquartered in a remarkable chateau in the village of Villers-aux-Bois and is currently helmed by eighth-generation vignerons Severine and Caroline Launois. The estate's Grand Cru vineyards are in Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant in the heart of the Cote de Blancs. The Launois Cuvée Réserve Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is the flagship NV champagne and their other Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) are variations of this unbelievably affordable sparkling masterpiece. The Quartz is bottled under five atmospheres of pressure instead of six and is secretly a single vineyard -- "Les Chetillons" in the Grand Cru village of Mesnil. The Clemence has an extra year of aging on the lees, four years total, which gives it a leesy profile; and the Maxime is a vintage Grand Cru bottling, currently 2018 (a great "solar" vintage with balance ripe fruit). The NV Dorine is sourced from a chalky patch in the Cote de Sezanne and is barrel fermented. The NV Vinum Dei (Wine of God) is the only blend - 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir; and the Valentine is a 100% Pinot Noir Brut Rosé, also sourced from Sézanne. At the top of the Launois pyramid are the prestige "Helia" bottlings - both vintage - the 2017 "Helia

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 01, 2025

The benchmark wine from this wonderful producer makes big-house Champagne look silly. Sure, there are some fabulous offerings from the great names in Champagne, but none come close to this magical bottle even at a $20 premium. This has everything you want in a Blanc de Blancs. Exquisite structure and vibrant creamy texture. Gorgeous aromatics filled with nuanced mineral, citrus and stone fruit flavors. There's no wonder this is one of our best-selling wines of any kind, but I'm still shocked we still are able to get this at such an incredible price. Also, these do amazingly in the cellar if you want to put a few years on there.

Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 30, 2025

Yikes! I just found that after working here since 4 B.C., I have never written a review for this Champagne. It's very strange because I love it so! In any case, this one of my perennial favorites. It exudes classic Mesnil citrus (lemon/lime) and also has the additional "house style" cream and cantaloupe scents. On the palate, oranges, green melons and (you guessed it!) vanilla cream. The small bubbles give away its Launois origins, as they are renowned for this (and the familiar "bomb" bottle). This particular cuvée should please almost anyone and I suggest buying a magnum and having a dinner party! Update-09/2025: These bottlings are still super consistent 7 years later! Fresh citrus, juicy oranges and that distinct Launois creamy bead and flavors. I'm still buying magnums of it!