David Léclapart : L'Amateur Blanc de Blancs 2019

Characteristics and tasting tips for L'Amateur Blanc de Blancs 2019 by David Léclapart

Tasting

Color
The wine shows a pale golden hue with crystal-clear highlights, enhanced by a fine and persistent effervescence.

Nose
The bouquet reveals lovely aromatic complexity, blending notes of fresh white fruits, delicate flowers, and dried fruits. With aeration, nuances of sweet spices and caramel gradually unfold, enriching the overall profile.

Palate
The attack is lively and energetic, carried by a delicate texture and pronounced minerality. Remarkably fine bubbles accompany a pure, precise structure through to a long, lingering finish.

Food pairing

This Champagne pairs beautifully with seafood, simply prepared fine fish, or aged goat cheese. It also elevates a refined aperitif among connoisseurs.

Serving and cellaring

To fully enjoy L'Amateur Blanc de Blancs 2019, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 8 and 10°C.

Additional information

This Zero Dosage Champagne has 0 g/L residual sugar. Total sulfite content is below 10 mg/L, with less than 5 mg/L free sulfites.

A biodynamic Premier Cru Champagne from the Montagne de Reims

The estate

This 3-hectare estate in the Montagne de Reims was founded in 1996, when David Léclapart took over the family estate in Trépail, and embodies a revolutionary approach in Champagne. A pioneer of biodynamics in Champagne, having obtained Demeter certification as early as 1998, David Léclapart produces around 15,000 bottles per year. Considered the spiritual heir of Anselme Selosse, he grows primarily Chardonnay on chalk soils, favoring spontaneous fermentation and the complete absence of chemical additives. His cuvées combine purity, delicacy, and energy, making this estate a well-kept secret for enlightened enthusiasts.

The vineyard

L'Amateur Blanc de Blancs 2019 comes from 6 plots in the Premier Cru village of Trépail in the Grande Montagne de Reims. The vines, averaging 40 to 45 years old, are planted at a density of 10,000 vines per hectare and pruned using the Chablis method. They take root in clay-limestone soils from the Upper and Lower Campanian. Yields are deliberately limited to around 1 kg per vine, ensuring optimal concentration in the hand-harvested grapes.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage benefited from favorable climatic conditions in Champagne . After a mild winter, spring proved conducive to a good start to the growing season. The hot, sunny summer allowed for progressive, harmonious ripening of the grapes. Harvest took place in fine weather conditions, enabling the picking of healthy, perfectly ripe berries.

Vinification and aging

The grapes for L'Amateur Blanc de Blancs 2019 are pressed immediately after harvest using a traditional vertical press. Vinification is carried out as a single-varietal wine with spontaneous alcoholic fermentation by indigenous yeasts over a period ranging from 3 weeks to 2 months. No enzymes, filtration, or fining are used. Malolactic fermentation also occurs spontaneously. The base wine is aged for 11 months on the lees in enameled steel tanks, followed by bottle aging for at least 20 months on slats before disgorgement.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay