Leclerc Briant : Château d'Avize Extra Brut 2020

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Château d'Avize Extra Brut 2020 Leclerc Briant

Tasting Notes

Color
The color reveals a luminous pale golden yellow hue, enhanced by bright straw-yellow highlights and a fine effervescence.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with notes of citrus, particularly lemon, mingled with hints of white flowers, verbena and tea. Subtle scents of toasted bread crust reveal its development.

Palate
The palate stands out for its remarkable freshness and finesse. Acidity provides structure throughout, while a chalky minerality, reminiscent of crushed stone, brings a savory and saline dimension that lingers into a long finish.

Food and Wine Pairing

This white wine pairs beautifully with seafood, such as oysters or scallops, as well as white fish in butter sauce. It also goes very well with pressed-curd cheeses or spring dishes featuring fresh herbs. It is equally ideal as an aperitif.

Other Characteristics

This champagne is an Extra Brut, meaning it has a very low dosage, ranging between 0 and 6 grams of residual sugar per liter.

The Pure, Mineral Expression of a Champagne Grand Cru by Leclerc Briant

The Estate

Founded in 1872 in Cumières, the Champagne house Leclerc Briant relocated to Épernay in 1955. Acquired in 2012 by Mark Nunnelly and Denise Dupré, a passionate American couple, the estate has undergone a true renaissance. Under the direction of winemaker Hervé Jestin and Frédéric Zeimett, the estate stands out for its forward-thinking approach and deep commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture. Today, the certified vineyard spans approximately 30 hectares, supplemented by contracted grape supplies, placing the house among the most essential names in the region.

The Vineyard

This cuvée comes from a distinctive 2.13-hectare plot located mid-slope in the Avize terroir, at the heart of the Champagne appellation, in the Côte des Blancs. This vineyard is distinguished by its purely chalky soils enriched with iron. It benefits from dual certification, organic since 2015 and biodynamic since 2018, reflecting a deep respect for the environment.

Winemaking and Aging

The making of the Château d'Avize Extra Brut 2020 favors minimal intervention. Fermentation occurs naturally through the action of indigenous yeasts. The wine then undergoes extended aging in contact with fine lees, giving it a beautiful textural complexity before a very discreet dosage.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay.