Dehours : Lieu-Dit "Brisefer"

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of Dehours' Lieu-Dit "Brisefer"

Tasting

Appearance
A beautiful pale gold hue, characteristic of its grape variety.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with notes of ripe white fruits such as peach, apple and pear. This fruity framework is then enriched with nuances of orange blossom, honey, hazelnut and brioche, all supported by a delicate minerality.

Palate
On the palate, the attack offers a balanced texture of medium body, marked by perfectly controlled oxidative evolution. Great freshness comes to balance the indulgent, fruity profile. The tasting continues with fluidity and elegance towards a more mineral dimension, ending with a long finish featuring hazelnut accents.

Food and wine pairings
This cuvée pairs wonderfully with seafood, particularly shellfish such as lobster or crab, as well as grilled white fish. Its structure also allows it to accompany richer dishes such as foie gras, poultry in delicate sauces, charcuterie or aged raw-milk cheeses. It is also an excellent choice as an aperitif.

Serving and cellaring
To fully appreciate Lieu-Dit "Brisefer", it is recommended to serve it in a large white wine glass, at a temperature above 10°C. Decanting is entirely possible to release its full range of aromas.

Other characteristics
This champagne has a dosage of between 0 and 5 g/L, placing it in the extra-brut category. The bottling and disgorgement dates are precisely indicated on the back label.

The authentic expression of terroir by Champagne Dehours

The estate
Founded in 1930 by Ludovic Dehours, the estate is located in the Vallée de la Marne. Today, Jérôme Dehours and his brother-in-law Jean-Marc Laisné run this 14.5-hectare property, divided into 42 plots. The brand distinguished itself as early as 1999 by becoming a pioneer in the production of single-plot cuvées in Champagne. Strongly committed to environmental respect, the estate holds HVE3 certification, favouring mechanical tillage and the preservation of biodiversity to best express the complex identity of its terroirs.

The vineyard
The Brisefer plot is located in the commune of Mareuil-le-Port, at the heart of the Champagne appellation. Facing east on a gentle slope of around 5%, it lies on sedimentary clays from the Sparnacian era. These soils show surface decarbonation and a very low limestone content. The vines, derived from massal selection, were planted in 1947, 1966 and 1992, with approximately a quarter of the surface area replanted in the spring of 2015. The estate practises mechanical tillage under the row and maintains grass cover at the centre of the plot.

The blend
The House's philosophy favours the expression of terroir through the blending of several harvests, thus going beyond the effect of a single year. This cuvée is based on a perpetual reserve initiated in 2013 for each plot. Recently disgorged bottles draw on a base from the 2017 vintage, supplemented by reserve wines ranging from 2013 to 2020, with a renewal rate of around 50% over time.

Winemaking and aging
The production of Lieu-Dit "Brisefer" stands out for its natural and minimally interventionist approach. Fermentation takes place in 200, 300 and 500-litre barrels. The wine then benefits from extended ageing on the lees in large casks, with a minimum of 36 months of maturation in bottle before disgorgement. Clarification occurs naturally, without any fining or filtration, and malolactic fermentation is avoided to preserve the cuvée's full freshness.

Grape variety
100% Chardonnay