Simon Rion's 2020 Blanc de Blancs is a confidential and rare micro-cuvée, with only 510 bottles produced worldwide. This signature champagne, made from a single plot located on the heights of Courmas, embodies the estate's quest for purity and precision. Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes grown on clay-limestone soils, this Extra-Brut vintage stands out for its crystalline clarity and chalky tension. It is an "unadulterated" wine, neither fined nor filtered, offering an authentic and vibrant expression of its Petite Montagne de Reims terroir.
The production of Simon Rion's 2020 Blanc de Blancs
This champagne is a pure Chardonnay (100%), grown by Simon Rion, a fourth-generation winegrower, using sustainable viticulture methods that respect the living environment. The production of this single-vineyard cuvée aims to capture the freshness and minerality of the grape variety. The choice of an Extra-Brut dosage during disgorging in November 2024 highlights the aromatic clarity and natural structure of the wine without artifice.
The Terroir
The grapes come exclusively from a micro-parcel located on the slopes of Courmas, in the Petite Montagne de Reims. This terroir benefits from a south-west exposure, ideal for optimal ripeness, and well-drained clay-limestone soil. This particular geology gives the Chardonnay a solid structure, while imparting a marked salinity and great aromatic finesse.
Vinification
Vinification is carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, a technical choice designed to preserve the precision and brightness of the fruit. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in its entirety to bring just the right roundness to the wine's liveliness. True to a philosophy of minimal intervention, the wine undergoes no fining, filtration, or tartaric treatment, thus preserving all of its substance.
The 2020 vintage
2020 was a sunny and early vintage in Champagne, producing grapes of excellent quality. On the luminous terroir of Courmas, this year allowed the Chardonnay to reach perfect maturity while retaining its structuring acidity. The 2020 Blanc de Blancs brilliantly expresses this duality, combining the generosity of the year with the mineral tension of the soil.
Tasting notes
Color
The color reveals a bright, crystalline pale gold, crossed by light green reflections typical of Chardonnay. The effervescence is fine and lively.
Nose
The nose seduces with its great aromatic purity. It opens with fresh notes of citrus (lemon, grapefruit) and white flowers, underscored by a chalky mineral touch.
Palate
On the palate, the attack is straightforward and precise. The texture is finely crafted, carried by a vibrant chalky tension. The finish is long, clean and marked by a beautiful, thirst-quenching salinity that invites you to take another sip.
Food pairing
- Open-sea oysters
- Sea bream sashimi
- Scallop tartare
- Roasted Turbot with Beurre Blanc
- Langoustine carpaccio
- Steamed cod fillet
- Fresh ash-coated goat cheese
- Mature Chaource
- Thin lemon tart
Storage and serving recommendations
How should this champagne be stored?
As this cuvée is delivered in a plain bottle, it is extremely sensitive to light (both natural and artificial). It is essential to store it immediately in total darkness, lying down, in a cool cellar (68-54°F) and away from vibrations. Unfiltered, this lively wine requires rest and great thermal stability.
Aging potential
The 2020 Blanc de Blancs, with its 48 months on lees, is made for aging. Its optimal tasting window extends over a decade:
- 2025–2028: The wine expresses its energy, chalky tension, and citrus purity (freshness phase).
- 2029–2032: It gains roundness and texture, developing notes of brioche and white fruit (fullness phase).
- From 2033 onwards: The cuvée reveals a complex maturity with hints of hazelnut and sweet spices (Complexity phase).
Serving suggestions
Serve this champagne straight and pure at a temperature of 10°C. Avoid excessive shaking so as not to "break" its crystalline structure. A thin white wine glass is ideal for channeling its aromatic tension.
