AR Lenoble : Extra Brut (Intense) V.20

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the AR Lenoble Champagne Extra Brut "Intense" V.20

Tasting Notes

Color
With a beautiful golden, luminous hue, this white wine reveals a crystalline clarity. Its effervescence stands out through a persistent cordon of fine, airy bubbles.

Nose
The olfactory approach is wonderfully rounded, opening onto aromas of white fruits such as pear and apple, enhanced by the vibrancy of yellow grapefruit and fresh lemon zest. With aeration, delicious notes of fresh brioche and fine pastry emerge.

Palate
The attack is smooth and remarkably fresh. The palate then unfolds with beautiful intensity around juicy citrus and orchard fruits, supported by a taut mineral backbone. The creamy texture of the mousse accompanies a persistent finish, marked by delicate citrus and saline touches.

Food and Wine Pairing

This cuvée pairs wonderfully with briny oysters, sea bream ceviche or delicate pink shrimp. It will also beautifully complement cheese gougères, mackerel rillettes, tuna sashimi, as well as Mediterranean tapas and light dishes seasoned with fresh herbs.

Serving and Cellaring

To fully appreciate this Extra Brut "Intense" V.20, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 8 and 10°C.

Other Characteristics

This wine has a very low dosage of 3 g/l, placing it in the extra brut category.

The Mineral and Authentic Expression of a Great Champagne

The Estate

Founded in 1920 by Armand-Raphaël Graser, the House of AR Lenoble is based in Damery, at the heart of the Champagne wine region. After more than a century of uninterrupted family management, the estate was passed on in April 2023 to Ségolène Frère Gallienne, its current owner. The estate relies on 18 hectares of its own vineyards and stands out for its pioneering environmental commitment, certified HVE Level 3. The house is also renowned for its distinctive approach to preserving its reserve wines in magnums.

The Vineyard

The estate's 18 hectares are spread across prestigious terroirs of Champagne. They include ten hectares of Chardonnay classified as Grand Cru in the village of Chouilly, in the Côte des Blancs. Six hectares of Pinot Noir thrive as Premier Cru in Bisseuil, in the Montagne de Reims, while one and a half hectares of Pinot Meunier are grown in Damery. Vineyard management is geared toward sustainability, with a conversion to organic farming and the presence of beehives to promote biodiversity.

The Blend

This cuvée is the result of a blend incorporating 40% reserve wines from previous harvests, bringing great complexity and beautiful maturity to the whole.

Winemaking and Aging

The Extra Brut "Intense" V.20 is crafted using traditional methods, with manual pressing in wooden presses and fermentations initiated by indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation is only carried out when necessary, to preserve the wine's tension. Aging on the lees lasts around four years before manual disgorgement. A key distinctive feature lies in the reserve wines: part is aged in wood, while the other rests in magnums sealed with cork stoppers. After disgorgement, the wine rests for a further four to six months in the cellar.

Grape Varieties

This wine is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.