Description & elaboration
The Blanc de Blancs 2021 cuvée from Rémi Leroy is a single-vineyard champagne from the Aube, made from 100% Chardonnay grown on the hillsides of Meurville. It is a champagne with notes of ripe apricot, toasted hazelnut, and a subtle chalky touch. On the palate, the texture is smooth and generous, carried by a lemony tension that naturally draws it towards the table. This is a confidential, identity-driven cuvée.
The Terroir
The Chardonnay vines come from the hillsides of Meurville, in the Côte des Bar area. The vines, with an average age of 23 years, are cultivated with natural grass cover to preserve biodiversity. Their roots reach down into deep clay-limestone soils, composed of Kimmeridgian marls and Portlandian rock.
The clay imparts a dense, fleshy character to the wine. The limestone subsoil provides a minerality that is highly characteristic of the area. This geological combination shapes the saline expression of the Chardonnay. Regular ploughing forces the root system to dig deeper into the soil.
Winemaking
The harvest is carried out by hand to preserve the integrity of the bunches. Only the first-press musts are retained. Alcoholic fermentation starts spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts (yeasts naturally present on the grapes), after which the juice is aged entirely in oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally over the course of winter.
Oak ageing builds an ample, cohesive structure. Bottling takes place in spring, with no fining or filtration. The character of the Blanc de Blancs is thus expressed without filter. The cuvée is dosed at 2 g/L.
The 2021 vintage
The 2021 growing season demanded constant vigilance. April frosts first affected the young buds. Downy mildew then struck the Côte des Bar. The estate's rigorous prophylactic approach preserved the health of the plots. A mild late season allowed for a gradual concentration of sugars, determining the precise harvest date.
The berries retain a high natural acidity, which finds its balance through the time spent in barrel.
Tasting notes
Appearance
The pale gold colour shimmers in the flute, animated by luminous silver highlights. The effervescence releases a steady stream of fine bubbles.
Nose
The first nose opens on yellow fruits. Candied apricot and mirabelle plum come through with clarity. With aeration, delicate toasted hazelnut notes take over. The bouquet finishes with a subtle evocation of chalk.
Palate
The palate opens on a smooth, voluminous texture. The suave attack coats the mouth at length. A lively lemony tension structures the mid-palate. The chalky finish extends into a long saline persistence.
Pairing suggestions
- Comté gougères
- Salmon verrines
- Iberian ham
- Poularde in cream sauce
- Porcini mushroom risotto
- Scallops
- Aged Chaource
- 18-month Comté
- Mirabelle plum tart
The Plus de Bulles expert's opinion
Why I love it
I was won over by the vibrant tension of this Chardonnay. Its saline backbone, carried by notes of citrus zest and white flowers, delivers a remarkable length and a chalky finish of great purity.
My recommendation
Serve it at 10–12 °C in a wine glass to highlight its energy. It will be sublime alongside a scallop carpaccio or oysters.
Advice
How to store this champagne?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle in reinforced packaging specially designed for champagne. Upon receipt, we recommend storing it horizontally, away from light.
Ideally in a cellar; if not, in a cool, not too dry place with a stable temperature.
Ageing potential
The Blanc de Blancs 2021 from Rémi Leroy is built for long evolution in the cellar. This vintage offers an ageing potential of approximately 10 to 12 years.
- Until 2031: mirabelle and apricot dominate, carried by the lively acidity of the Aube Chardonnay.
- From 2032 onwards: the profile softens with age; tertiary notes of pastry and acacia honey enrich the nose.
- Around 2033: the wine reaches its peak. The long time on lees reveals aromas of roasted hazelnut and toasted bread.
Serving suggestions
Serve within a temperature range of 10–12 °C. A tulip glass with a narrowed rim concentrates the bouquet while encouraging oxygenation. Five minutes of aeration will dissipate any initial reductive notes and allow the aromas from the oak ageing to express themselves fully.
An anecdote about this cuvée
Trained in Bordeaux, Rémi Leroy brings his oenological expertise to Champagne. His background as an agronomic engineer enabled him to identify the geological potential of Meurville and to target exceptional plots on limestone soils. With a different grape variety, the vintage blanc de noirs from rémi leroy illustrates this same single-vineyard rigour.
The specialist press regularly praises the estate's work. The Gault&Millau guide documents the consistency of these barrel-aged vinifications. The Kimmeridgian bedrock systematically marks the finish, a recognisable signature above all others.
Through its winemaking and aromatic profile, this cuvée is reminiscent of the delicacy of Chardonnay in its rosé version.
Also worth discovering: Brut Nature.
