Eric Taillet & The Rise of Meunier: A Champagne Story Told in Four Glasses

When you speak with Eric Taillet, you feel it instantly—he’s not just making Champagne. He’s building a movement. A fourth-generation vigneron from the Vallée de la Marne, Taillet has made it his life’s work to elevate Pinot Meunier—long the underdog of Champagne—to a place of prestige.

In his hands, Meunier sings. He grows the grapes. He bottles the wine. He puts his name on every label. This is grower Champagne with soul.

I had the chance to meet Eric at Oiji Mi, a Michelin-starred Korean restaurant in New York City, where we tasted through four of his Champagnes alongside a five-course menu. Each wine brought its own voice to the table, and when paired with the sweet, savory, spicy notes of Korean cuisine—it was nothing short of a revelation.

Champagne Eric Taillet: Where Heritage Meets Vision

Champagne Eric Taillet isn’t just another grower estate. It’s a story of land, family, and radical belief in a misunderstood grape. The estate, located in the Vallée de la Marne, has cultivated vines since the early 1900s. For decades, the fruit was sold to big houses—until Eric’s grandfather, Gaston, shifted focus to quality and terroir. Eric’s father, Daniel, pushed further, beginning estate bottling. But it was Eric, in the 1990s, who made the boldest move: dedicating the domaine almost entirely to Pinot Meunier.

With creativity and conviction, he redefined Meunier—not as filler, but as feature. Under his guidance, it now produces wines of texture, precision, and personality.

Pinot Meunier: The Grape with Something to Say

PINOT MEUNIER | PHOTO CREDIT: CHAMPAGNE ERIC TAILLET

Meunier is often overshadowed by Chardonnay’s elegance and Pinot Noir’s power. But in the right hands, it offers something else entirely: vibrancy, approachability, and a floral-fruited charm.

It thrives in the cooler climate of the Vallée de la Marne and ripens reliably, even in difficult vintages. Taillet sees Meunier not as a backup singer, but a soloist. Made into 100% Meunier Champagne, the wines show depth and range—from lifted and mineral to textured and savory.

The Meunier Institute: Giving Voice to the Underdog

In 2015, Eric Taillet took his vision further by founding the Meunier Institute, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Champagne. As president, he leads this collective of growers with a single mission: to champion Pinot Meunier.

Once typecast as the "easy" grape, Meunier is now getting serious attention. The Institute organizes research, education, and tastings—all aimed at changing how the grape is viewed and grown. It’s about legacy, innovation, and giving Meunier the platform it deserves.

Four Wines. One Vision. All Heart.

🥂 Exclusiv’T Blanc de Meunier Brut

100% Pinot Meunier | 24 months on lees | Stainless steel
Taillet’s signature cuvée—bright, mineral, and refreshing. Think pear skin, green apple, orange blossom and lemon zest. Clean, linear, and expressive.

🍾 Renaissance Extra Brut

100% Pinot Meunier | 36+ months on lees | Old vines
From Taillet family’s oldest vines, average 60+ year-old. Partially aged in neutral oak, and bottled with only 3 g/L dosage. Baked apple, warm brioche, and a saline thread from start to finish. Long finish.

🌹 Luminous’T Brut Rosé

100% Pinot Meunier (99% direct press, 1% red wine) | 30+  months on lees.

Delicate, textured, and glowing with notes of rose petals, raspberry, and blood orange. On the palate, it’s juicy and lifted, with fine-boned structure.

🍇 Sur la Grande Marais Brut Nature

90% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay | 48+ months on lees | Zero dosage
The pinnacle of Eric Taillet’s Champagne. From a sandy-soil single vineyard planted in 1986 Fermented in oak. Bold, structured, yet sharp. Apricot, honeycomb, toasted hazelnut, sea breeze. No dosage, no pretense.

Why Meunier + Korean Cuisine Just Works

There’s a natural harmony here. Korean food thrives on balance—sweet, salty, fermented, spicy. Meunier brings freshness, fruit, and a soft texture that embraces those contrasts. It's not trying to outshine the food. It's meeting it halfway.

Every course at Oiji Mi found its rhythm with Taillet’s wines. It didn’t feel forced. It felt inevitable.

Final Thought

Eric Taillet isn’t just making wine. He’s changing minds. These Champagnes prove that Pinot Meunier can be expressive, age-worthy, and unforgettable.

Have you had 100% Meunier Champagne before? And paired it with Korean food?
Make your reservation at Oiji Mi, and pour a glass of something different.
You’ll never see Champagne—or Meunier—the same way again.