Apollonis is the brand of the family-run Champagne Michel Loriot in Festigny, in the Flagot valley, Vallée de la Marne. The estate has belonged to the Loriot family since 1675, and Michel Loriot is considered a virtuoso of Meunier. He works with his wife Martine, his daughter Marie, an oenologist and the twelfth generation, and his son-in-law Alban in production. The house has been making Meunier champagne since 1931. The traditional press recalls Léopold and Palmyre Loriot in 1903.
The vines cover seven hectares and six terroirs, mostly Meunier, with some Chardonnay and a little Pinot Noir. The estate is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale and is a member of the Vignerons Indépendants. The rows are grassed over, and spraying is almost entirely limited to products permitted in organic viticulture.
What sets it apart is the music. Some parcels are played "Protéodie", music for plants. In the cellars, Mozart, Brahms, Vivaldi and Elgar accompany fermentation. The range includes Authentic Meunier (blanc de noirs), the rosé Théodorine, Palmyre as a brut nature and the vintage cuvée Monodie. Then there is Composition, a blend of Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Authentic Meunier shows notes of pear and melon, with a hint of fresh butter. On the palate it is fresh, saline and lively.
