La Closerie : Grand Cru Extra Brut LC22

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Grand Cru Extra Brut "LC22" by La Closerie

Tasting

Nose
The aromatic bouquet reveals great complexity, blending scents of pecan and toasted hazelnuts with notes of ripe stone fruit, such as creamy white peach and apricot. Subtle citrus touches, reminiscent of sweet orange and zest, intertwine with a deep minerality evoking slate and damp chalk, all underscored by nuances of yeast and toasted bread.

Palate
The palate offers a texture that is both rich and creamy, supported by a generous volume. A lively, tonic acidity perfectly balances this fullness, creating a beautiful tension with the mineral freshness. The effervescence stands out with exceptionally fine bubbles. The long, complex finish lingers on chalky notes and dried fruit, ending on a delicate saline touch.

Food and wine pairing
This wine pairs wonderfully with delicate crustaceans such as lobster, crab, crayfish or raw oysters, enhanced by a simple squeeze of lemon or a light creamy sauce. It also pairs elegantly with aged hard cheeses like mature Comté or Grana Padano, as well as refined dishes based on reductions. It is equally enjoyable on its own, as an aperitif.

Serving and aging
The Grand Cru Extra Brut "LC22" is a wine built for aging. It is recommended to cellar it for a few years to allow it to reveal its full potential, with an optimal tasting window extending from approximately 2027 to 2037.

Other characteristics
This wine stands out for its extremely low, if not nonexistent, dosage, placing it in the extra brut or zero dosage category, which highlights the purity of its terroir without any added sweetness.

The pure, mineral expression of a great Champagne by La Closerie

The estate
Founded in 1998, the La Closerie estate is run by Jérôme Prévost, a winemaker with an artistic and minimalist approach. Located in Gueux, at the heart of Champagne, the estate has historically been built around a 2.2-hectare vineyard. A pioneer in the revival of the Pinot Meunier grape variety, Jérôme Prévost cultivates his vines with deep respect for nature, drastically limiting yields and encouraging soil biodiversity. His rare and sought-after cuvées embody an artisanal and authentic vision of Champagne winemaking.

The vineyard
Unlike the estate's historic cuvée, the grapes for this wine come from external plots cultivated in partnership, located in prestigious terroirs. The vines benefit from minimalist farming practices and respectful soil management. The Chardonnay vines, from a massale selection planted in the 1980s, thrive on the terroir of Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs. The Pinot Noir vines, meanwhile, come from vineyards planted in the 1960s in Puisieulx, in the Montagne de Reims.

The blend
This wine is the result of a harvest from a growing cycle marked by particularly hot and dry weather conditions. This extreme heat allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness and great concentration, while preserving a beautiful acidic tension.

Winemaking and aging
The winemaking of the Grand Cru Extra Brut "LC22" follows a minimal-intervention philosophy. Fermentation starts spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts. The juices flow by gravity, without the use of electrical equipment, to preserve their delicacy. Aging takes place entirely in wood for ten months, in barrels of various sizes, on full lees and without racking. Malolactic fermentation is not systematic. Bottling is done by gravity, followed by aging on lees for up to eighteen months before disgorgement.

Grape varieties
50% Pinot Noir
50% Chardonnay