The 2016 Blanc de Noirs cuvée from Champagne Lenoble is a signature wine, described as "intense and distinguished." Exclusively sourced from the village of Bisseuil, classified as Premier Cru in the Grande Vallée de la Marne, this 100% Pinot Noir expresses all the power of this sunny terroir. Aged entirely in wood (casks and barrels) and matured for nearly 8 years in the cellar, this vintage presents itself in its simplest form: a Brut Nature (Zero Dosage) with a velvety texture and deep aromatic complexity.
The production of the 2016 Blanc de Noirs
This champagne is 100% Pinot Noir from the Premier Cru terroir of Bisseuil. The soil is limestone and clay-limestone, with well-exposed slopes that allow the Pinot Noir to gain structure while retaining its freshness.
Vinification in Wood
The signature of this cuvée lies in its careful aging:
- Vinification: After traditional pressing and vinification in stainless steel vats, the wine is aged 100% in wood, divided between 50-liter casks and 228-liter barrels.
- Aging: Maturation for nearly 8 years on lees in the estate's historic cellars.
- Dosage: Brut Nature (0 g/L), a bold choice that highlights the natural richness of the terroir without artifice.
The 2016 vintage
Despite a mixed start to the year, 2016 enjoyed a hot, sunny summer, ensuring excellent ripening. The harvest was healthy and consistent. The Pinot Noirs from this year are particularly distinguished by their richness, fullness, and harmony, offering excellent aging potential.
Tasting of the 2016 Lenoble Blanc de Noirs
Color
The color is deep, enlivened by a creamy effervescence typical of a great Blanc de Noirs at maturity.
Nose
The nose offers a rich and seductive bouquet. It combines intense aromas of candied yellow fruit with deeper notes of dried fruit and gingerbread. Toasted and spicy nuances testify to the mastery of oak aging.
Palate
The attack is lively. The texture is full-bodied and velvety, revealing aromas of ripe red fruit and brioche. The absence of dosage highlights its remarkable purity. The finish is long and precise, combining freshness and minerality.
Food pairing
- Foie gras pressé with figs
- Game pâté en croûte
- Cured Pata Negra ham
- Roasted blue lobster
- Chicken supreme
- Braised sweetbreads
- Amandine with pears
- 24-month aged Comté
- Farmhouse Langres
Storage and serving recommendations
Aging potential
Thanks to the quality of the 2016 vintage and its fine tannic structure, this wine has great potential:
- 2025–2028: The wine plays on purity, candied fruit, and mineral freshness (elegance phase).
- 2029–2032: Notes of gingerbread and toast will intensify, and the palate will gain in complexity (complexity phase).
- Beyond 2033: A great gastronomic wine for lovers of tertiary notes.
Serving suggestions
This exceptional Brut Nature is best enjoyed between 10°C and 12°C. A large glass is recommended to allow the wine to open up and express the complexity of its oak aging.
Anecdote about this cuvée
Bisseuil is one of the few villages in the Grande Vallée de la Marne to have such a limestone terroir, similar to that of the Côte des Blancs, but exposed to Pinot Noir. It is this geological paradox that gives Bisseuil wines their unique "mineral freshness," capable of withstanding 100% oak aging without ever becoming heavy.
