Today we share one of the boutique producers of Champagne. Lucien Leclerc founded this house with four hectares of vineyards in Cumières in 1872. The business moved to Épernay in 1955 when Bertrand Leclerc married Jacqueline Briant and formed the négociant firm which still carries their name.
Leclerc Briant began its organic practices beginning in the 1960’s and helped pioneer the idea behind single-vineyard Champagne beginning in the 1970’s. Fifth generation vigneron, Pascal Leclerc began following biodynamic principles in 1988, with part of the production Demeter certified since 2003. Today, enologist Hervé Jestin serves as vigneron.
La Croisette is the home vineyard of Leclerc Briant, a 0.6 -hectare plot adjacent to the winery in Épernay, planted in 1966 to Chardonnay. Remarkably, this vineyard has never been treated with herbicides or pesticides. The remaining 9.6 hectares of vineyard are spread between the Premier Cru villages of Cumières, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Bisseuil in the Vallée de la Marne, Villers-Allerand and Rilly la Montagne in Montagne de Reims and in the Grand Cru villages of Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs.
The new Champagnes by Hervé Jestin are beautiful as he has served as chef du cave since 2008. His 2018 ‘Premier Cru Extra Brut’ Champagne (OB, 93) is a stunning wine that is drinking marvelously right now. I adored the 2018 ‘Les Monts Ferres’ Champagne (OB, 95) which is deep and concentrated with serious tension. Learn more about this great house in Champagne at http://leclercbriant.fr and here are my new reviews of the latest releases from Leclerc Briant.
NV Leclerc Briant ‘Reserve Brut’ Champagne- The NV Leclerc Briant ‘Reserve Brut’ Champagne is a great combination of Pinot Noir (40%), Pinot Meunier (40%) and the remainder Chardonnay. Made from wines aged 2-7 years this shows salted biscuit flavors alongside key lime zest, oyster shell and a fabulous mousse on the palate. Great now, enjoy over the next seven plus years to come. Drink 2024-2031- 91
NV Leclerc Briant ‘Brut Rose’ Champagne- The NV Leclerc Briant ‘Brut Rose’ Champagne is nearly all Chardonnay (95%) with the remainder Pinot Noir. Aged for three years on the lees, this delivers tart cranberry and red currant flavors with diatomaceous earth and kumquat rind notes on the palate. Finishing long, this beautifully astringent wine is drinking marvelously right now. Don’t serve too cold! Drink 2024-2031- 92
2018 Leclerc Briant ‘Extra Brut’ Champagne- An outstanding vintage champagne, the 2018 Leclerc Briant ‘Extra Brut’ Champagne is mostly Pinot Noir (50%) with 35% Chardonnay and the remainder Pinot Meunier. Give 4G/L dosage, the wine was aged for 100 months in the bottle before discouragement. Golden in the glass, this offers apricot and lemon blossom notes on the nose alongside salted Chalk bread and nutty tones on the nose. The palate is rich and layered with plenty of tension and chalky minerality. Drink 2024-2036- 93
2018 Leclerc Briant ‘Les Monts Ferres’ Champagne- The stunning 2018 ‘les Monts Ferres’ comes from a single plot of Chardonnay located south of the Cote de Blancs on the Versus side. Soils here are chalky with a large amount of iron deposited. A brilliant golden hue in the glass, this offers a refined mousse with bright red fruit flavors upon entry. With more air salty minerals, wet granite, green apple, and cashew nut flavors with candied ginger all brilliantly meld together. Refined, tight-knit and elegant, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2024-2039- 95