Description
We are delighted and excited to offer you the latest vintage of the unique Cuvée Abyss from Champagne Leclerc Briant along with the inaugural release of their newest single vineyard, Les Monte Ferrés, from Vertus, the southernmost 1er Cru village of the Cotes des Blancs.
Champagne Leclerc Briant focuses on organic and biodynamic viticulture, working in harmony with nature to produce some of the region’s most exciting wines.
Lucien Leclerc founded the estate in 1872 in the village of Cumières. In the mid-20th century, in the hands of Lucien’s great-grandson, Bertrand Leclerc, and his wife, Jacqueline Briant, the operation was moved to the beating heart of Champagne, Epernay. Here it also took a new name – Leclerc Briant. Around the same time, the house started practising biodynamic viticulture (becoming one of the first in the region to do so), eventually earning certification in the 1980s.
Since 2012, Chef du Cave Hervé Justin, formerly of Champagne Duval-Leroy, has refined the house style here. Working with organic and biodynamic fruit, he also practises biodynamic principles in the winery. Leclerc Briant has taken on new vineyards, renovated its facilities, and has a renewed, uncompromising focus on quality.
The traditional sparkling wine method here is low dosage, vineyard-specific, and extremely interesting. The popular Abyss cuvée is aged underwater. As of the 2012 vintage, Hervé Jestin and the team are responsible for making the wine at Château d’Avize, which they bottle under the Leclerc Briant label and sell through La Place de Bordeaux.
*****
Introducing Les Mont Ferrés 2018. Although Leclerc Briant have been farming this biodynamic vineyard for years, it wasn’t until the quality of the 2018 vintage which compelled Hervé, to vinify and bottle separately. Les Mont Ferrés is a Premier Cru single vineyard in Vertus, the most southernmost village of the Cotes des Blancs. This 100% Chardonnay is from a beautiful, mid slope vineyards which sits directly on the village boundary with neighbouring Grand Cru Les Mesnil-sur-Ogers. This soil here is typical thoroughbred chalk, but unusually layered with a high proportion of lead. This rare terroir gives wines of racing chalk tension, paired with a rich, ferrous minerality. A character propelled by the sunny fruit generosity of the vintage.
The wine is entirely in oak, second fill barrique (from Ch. Haut Brion & d’Yquem) for 10 months prior to secondary fermentation, followed by 3 years of lees. The nose is open, inviting, and sensual with wafts of saffron, vanilla, wild sage and white peach. The palate is extraordinarily, vinous and rich. Yellow fruits, golden almond croissant met with soft edges of spice, and a frame of fine oak. There are savoury details which melt into a rare combination of taught chalk salinity and a deeper, earthy minerality. The finish is joyful, sun kissed, spiced but serious, firmly mineral. All supported by white gold foam, a champagne of the highest class. A new star is born. Bottled July 2019, disgorged May 2023, dosage 1.4grams. Drink now to 2035.
