Champagne LeClerc Briant Les Basses Prières Extra Brut Hautvillers Premier Cru 2018

Champagne Leclerc Briant, established in 1872 by Lucien Leclerc in the village of Cumières, is widely renowned for its commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture. In 1955, the estate relocated to Épernay and was among the first in Champagne to embrace organic practices and, later, biodynamic principles, earning Demeter certification in 2003. Following a period of transition, the estate was revitalized in 2012 when American Champagne enthusiasts Mark Nunnelly and Denise Dupré acquired it, ushering in a new era of precision and focused winemaking that has made Leclerc Briant one of the most exciting names in Champagne today.

Les Basses Prières is a true single-vineyard cuvée, sourced entirely from one plot in Hautvillers Premier Cru in the Vallée de la Marne, the UNESCO-recognized village largely regarded as the birthplace of Champagne. The 2018 vintage blends 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, and it gorgeously captures both the freshness and the intensity of this exceptional terroir. Crafted with meticulous care, the wine was vinified and aged in oak for 9 months, then rested for 5 years on the lees to build complexity and creaminess before receiving a teeny dosage of just 1.5 g/L meant to add softness while maintaining purity and precision. 

And what a pure and precise vision it is! The nose opens on fine, wet chalk, caressed by notes of licorice, elderberry, Meyer lemon, and apple, as the oak vinification and aging lend a fruity fullness to the mouth. A chewy, mouthwatering sense of juiciness erupts across the palate, with notes of cherry turnover, tangerine skin, salmonberry, and warm croissant dough, all framed by the salinity and elegance that define great Hautvillers fruit. Barely 100 cases were even made – and it’s safe to say far fewer have made it to our warehouse. Exceptionally rare, unbelievably well-crafted, from legendary terroir… really, the price we have here is a bargain for this treasure. I can’t imagine anyone not absolutely adoring this Champagne; don’t regret missing it!