Champagne Gaspard Brochet - Le Lion - Volume 7
Located in Villers-aux-Nœuds, one of the smallest villages classified as Premier Cru in the Montagne de Reims, the Gaspard Brochet estate is part of this new generation of winemakers who craft artisanal Champagne deeply attached to their terroir. Heir to a family heritage cultivated over several generations, Gaspard Brochet has been developing for a few years a demanding approach based on parcel vinifications, precise aging, and minimal interventions. His "Volume" collection is a true chronicle of the vintages and terroirs of the estate, each cuvée telling a different story through a place, a grape variety, and a year. Le Lion – Volume 7 perfectly illustrates this philosophy by highlighting a Pinot Noir from a particularly unique Premier Cru terroir. This confidential cuvée testifies to a constant search for authenticity, where every detail of production aims to preserve the purest expression of the grape and the soil. The 2023 vintage finds here a precise and vibrant interpretation.
Le Lion is made exclusively from Pinot Noir coming from the lieu-dit Le Mont Benoît, located on the Premier Cru terroir of Villers-aux-Nœuds. This parcel rests on silty soils covering shallow chalk, a combination that brings the wine both breadth, finesse, and mineral tension. The vinification is carried out entirely by gravity to preserve the integrity of the grape and the delicacy of the juices. Fermentations and aging take place in small oak barrels, in a low-intervention approach where the wine evolves naturally in contact with its lees. True to the estate’s style, this cuvée is un-fined, un-racked, unfiltered, and not topped up, fully embracing an artisanal philosophy that favors texture and complexity. Presented as Extra Brut, it benefits from a discreet dosage that respects the natural balance of the wine and fully expresses the terroir of the 2023 vintage.
On tasting, volume 7 of the Le Lion cuvée reveals all the personality of the Pinot Noir from Villers-aux-Nœuds. The nose develops aromas of ripe red fruits, cherry, raspberry, and plum, enriched by spicy, slightly smoky notes and a subtle oxidative touch from the non-topped-up aging. The palate is ample and structured, with a generous texture supported by a chalky freshness that brings balance and length. The fine bubbles accompany a deep and energetic matter, while the finish reveals a beautiful salinity and remarkable persistence. This characterful Champagne is aimed at lovers of authentic terroir cuvées, capable of combining power, precision, and complexity. At the table, it will elegantly accompany roasted poultry, white meats with mushrooms, or gastronomic preparations highlighting the richness and finesse of Champagne Pinot Noir.
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir
