Champagne LECLERC BRIANT - Cuvée Abyss Rosé 2019
Since its revival under the impetus of Mark Nunnelly and Denise Dupré, the Leclerc Briant House has pursued in Épernay a unique vision of Champagne, based on biodynamics, respect for the soil, and a constant quest for precision. The estate is among the pioneering Champagne houses in the biodynamic approach and today works a vineyard managed with certified organic and biodynamic agriculture. Under the guidance of oenologist Hervé Jestin, the vinifications favor the purity of the raw materials and the expression of the terroirs. Abyss Rosé holds a special place in this range, as it is not just a vintage rosé champagne, but a cuvée whose aging continues in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean. After its cellar period, the bottles are submerged off the coast of the island of Ouessant, in the bay of Stiff, at about 60 meters depth. Permanent darkness, stable temperature, pressure, and continuous movement of ocean currents create a maturation environment radically different from that of a traditional cellar.
The 2019 vintage is based on a blend of 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir vinified as red. The grapes come notably from limestone terroirs selected for their ability to produce taut and mineral wines, with Chardonnay from Montgueux and Pinot Noir from villages classified as Premier and Grand Cru. After harvest, the wine undergoes a first maturation according to the Champagne method before being disgorged in July 2022. The bottles are then submerged in October 2022 in the bay of Stiff and remain there for about eleven months at a depth close to 60 meters. This underwater period takes place in darkness, at a constant temperature, under pressure, and in permanent contact with ocean movements. The Abyss Rosé 2019 is thus an Extra-Brut vintage whose structure combines the sunny richness of the vintage with a particularly marked saline and mineral dimension. The choice of a Pinot Noir vinified as red brings a fruity and tannic framework that gives the wine more relief than a rosé Champagne simply marked by an aromatic nuance.
The color shows a delicate peach hue, with fine and discreet effervescence. The nose opens on rose, citrus, and bergamot, then gains depth with iodized, saline, and slightly pastry-like nuances. On the palate, the attack is supple and fleshy, carried by a ripe red fruit evoking strawberry and raspberry, before freshness and salinity gradually take over. The bubble, very integrated, leaves an almost creamy sensation, while fine tannins from the Pinot Noir structure the mid-palate and extend the finish. The whole maintains remarkable tension, with a saline and slightly spicy finish that brings depth without weighing down the wine. This particularly gastronomic profile calls for pairings with turbot, roasted lobster, langoustines, poultry with mild spices, or a dish combining red fruits and salty elements. It deserves to be served in a sufficiently large wine glass, around 10 to 12 °C, to allow its fruity, chalky, and marine nuances to fully develop.
Grape varieties: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir
