Simon Rion

Blanc de Blancs 2021 | Bottle 75cl

Description

Description & elaboration

The Blanc de Blancs 2021 cuvée from Simon Rion is a 100% Chardonnay champagne crafted on the slopes of Courmas, in the Vallée de l'Ardre. It is a champagne with notes of vine flowers — candied lemon zest — fresh pear, with remarkable aromatic precision. On the palate, the texture is taut and mineral, with a saline finish that pairs beautifully with seafood-driven tables. Shaped by the fourth generation of a family-run house, this Blanc de Blancs is produced in only 1,022 numbered bottles, making it a truly confidential micro-cuvée.

Production is limited to 1,022 numbered bottles from the 2021 harvest. The blend combines the directness of concrete tanks with the contribution of oak barrels. This combination structures the wine without overpowering its fresh citrus aromas. The taut finish is the hallmark of this white Champagne grape variety.

The Terroir

The vines of Courmas are rooted in a base of Thanetian sands, dotted with outcrops of Lutetian limestone. The estate holds Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification and also carries the Viticulture Durable en Champagne (vDC) label.

The VDC certification specifications govern soil management and prohibit synthetic herbicides. Cover crops between the rows stimulate biological activity in the silty soil. The Chardonnay roots dig deep to draw on water resources.

This regular soil work limits the vegetative vigour of the vine, concentrating nutrients into the berries at véraison. The grapes therefore display a particularly high level of malic acidity. It is this local geology that forms the backbone of the finished wine.

Vinification

This wine belongs to the Blanc de blancs category. After pressing, Simon Rion sets aside his finest tank. Alcoholic fermentation begins spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts (yeasts naturally present in the cellar, with no external additions). 80% of the volume ferments in thermoregulated concrete tanks.

The remaining 20% spends eight months in French oak barrels, providing the wine with progressive micro-oxygenation. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in full, converting malic acid into softer lactic acid. This natural process reduces astringency without compromising the freshness of the Chardonnay.

The estate then bottles without filtration or cold tartaric stabilisation. The wine rests patiently on its lees in the chalky cellars.

This extended ageing triggers yeast autolysis (the breakdown of dead yeasts that enriches the wine), generating aromas of toasted almonds and brioche. The Extra-Brut dosage is kept at 2.6 g/L using a neutral expedition liqueur.

The 2021 vintage

The 2021 growing season presented an atypical meteorological picture in Champagne. The vines of the Petite Montagne de Reims suffered an April frost, holding back the spring budbreak. The summer period then brought regular rainfall across the Courmas vineyard.

This humid climate encouraged the development of downy mildew on the foliage and clusters. The winegrower redoubled his efforts to safeguard the harvest's potential. Conditions improved markedly at the end of August, and a sunny September kick-started the ripening of the surviving berries.

Chardonnay ultimately proved its mettle in this late-ripening vintage. The cool summer temperatures preserved very low pH levels in the grapes. Harvesters meticulously selected healthy clusters directly on the vine. Juice extraction in the cellar revealed an exceptionally pronounced acidic tension.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance

  The fluid robe presents a pale gold hue shot through with fine silvery highlights. On pouring, a continuous stream of regular bubbles rises along the glass.

• Nose

  The first nose delivers crisp floral scents of vine flowers and hawthorn. With aeration, citrus aromas and candied lemon zest gradually emerge.

• Palate

  The attack is fresh and direct, reflecting the climatic character of the year. The mid-palate softens around pear before a long, saline finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Canapés & Aperitif Bites

• Sea bass tartare with yuzu
• Gougères with aged Comté
• Avocado and crab verrines

Main Courses

• Fillet of John Dory
• Pan-seared scallops
• Asparagus risotto

Cheese & Desserts

• Aged Chaource
• Thin pear tart
• Young twelve-month Comté

The Plus de Bulles Expert's View

Practical Advice

How to store this champagne?

Plus de Bulles ships this bottle (75 cl) in reinforced packaging specially designed for champagne transport. Once received, we recommend storing the bottle on its side, away from light — ideally in a cellar, or at least in a cool, not too dry environment with a relatively stable temperature.

Ageing potential

The low pH of the 2021 vintage allows for ageing of 15 to 20 years for the Simon Rion Blanc de Blancs 2021 cuvée.

• Until 2031: the profile preserves the freshness of lemon zest and hawthorn floral notes.
• From 2032: the wine develops indulgent notes of buttery brioche and toasted almonds.
• Around 2041: with the years, complex aromas of dried fruits and gentle spices take over.

Serving suggestions

Serve this champagne at around 9 °C. Choose a wide tulip glass to concentrate the wine's full aromatic spectrum. Uncork the bottle approximately ten minutes before the start of the meal. This brief exposure to air encourages the aromas to open up.

A Word About This Cuvée

The estate is today driven forward by its fourth generation. Simon Rion carries on the family tradition on the slopes of the Vallée de l'Ardre, with a minimally interventionist winemaking philosophy in the cellar. This commitment to quality guides every step of the elaboration of this vintage Blanc de Blancs cuvée.

The fractional pressing and selection of the first-run musts define its style. This rigorous approach in the cellar echoes the pure expression of Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, while delivering a distinct local signature shaped by the chalky, sandy soils of Courmas. The limited release of 1,022 bottles from the 2021 edition is testament to a rigorous single-plot selection.