Description & elaboration
The Les Leusonnes 2022 cuvée from Simon Rion is a single-vineyard champagne sourced from the terroir of Courmas in the Vallée de l'Ardre. This champagne offers notes of ripe pear, fresh almond and warm pastry, reflecting a full barrel-ageing process. On the palate, the velvety, vinous texture pairs beautifully with white meats and fine cuisine. Simon Rion has crafted a confidential release limited to just 600 bottles. With this cuvée, Simon Rion delivers a singular interpretation of this lieu-dit in Courmas.
The Terroir
The vines grow on the hillsides of Courmas village, in the slopes of the Vallée de l'Ardre. The Les Leusonnes lieu-dit benefits from a south-west facing exposure, ideal for achieving full ripeness in Meunier. The roots dig deep into shallow Thanetian soils, a blend of silty sands and clay marls. This structure retains moisture during summer drought, providing the vines with a consistent water supply.
Winemaking
The grapes come from two plots situated just 70 metres apart. The oldest vines date back to 1976; the other Meunier vines were planted in 1990. The free-run juice ferments exclusively in oak barrels for 11 months, on full lees with regular stirring. This method brings roundness and aromatic depth to the wine.
Malolactic fermentation takes place entirely in barrel. Tirage under cork follows without prior filtration, after natural cold-settling through the winter months.
The 2022 vintage
The 2022 growing season was favourable, encouraging complete physiological ripeness. The Thanetian soils released their water reserves steadily, nourishing the bunches without any deficit. The Meunier displays a well-structured acidic backbone, with dense concentration and substance on the palate. This potential makes this release well suited to the cellar for long ageing.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
The deep golden colour shows amber highlights. A fine effervescence feeds a persistent bead. The visual appearance reflects the extended barrel ageing.
Nose
The nose opens on ripe pear aromas. Aeration releases warm pastry fragrances. Fresh almond nuances complete the bouquet.
Palate
The attack reveals a velvety texture on the palate, broad and vinous. The finish lingers with a mouth-watering chalky tension and persistent toasted notes.
Food Pairing Suggestions
- Comté gougères
- Foie gras toasts
- Aged Iberian ham
- Roast poultry with ceps
- Braised veal sweetbreads
- Roasted pork tenderloin
- Aged Comté 24 months
- Farmhouse Chaource
- Warm Tarte Tatin
The Plus de Bulles Expert's Opinion
Why I love it
I was won over by the brilliance of this Meunier, offering a delicate flesh of white fruits. The palate is both suave and driven by a saline tension, lingering with a persistence that underlines its exceptional purity.
My recommendation
Serve at 8–10 °C in a wine glass. Its generous character will elegantly accompany poultry in a cream sauce or an aged goat's cheese.
Practical Advice
How to store this champagne?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle (75cl) in reinforced packaging specially designed for champagne transport. Upon receipt, we recommend storing the bottle on its side, away from light. Ideally in a cellar, or at the very least in a cool, not too dry place with a relatively stable temperature.
Ageing potential
The acidic structure of Les Leusonnes 2022 from Simon Rion allows for extended ageing. This grower champagne offers an estimated ageing potential of 15 years.
- Up to 2032: the aromatic profile reveals ripe yellow fruits and vibrant acidity — a fruity, fresh register.
- From 2033: the profile shifts towards toasted bread and roasted hazelnut aromas — a rich, indulgent register.
- Around 2037: tertiary notes of stewed fruits and gentle spices dominate the bouquet — a complex, warming register.
Serving advice
Serve this champagne at 11 °C to fully release its autolytic aromas (developed through contact with the lees during ageing). Choose a wide-bowled glass to encourage natural aeration. Open the bottle fifteen minutes before serving at the table.
An anecdote about this cuvée
The isolation of this terroir gives rise to this small-batch release. This confidential production faithfully captures the soils of Courmas. The Simon Rion estate continually explores new expressions from its vineyard, celebrating the authenticity of the pinot meunier signé simon rion. The cuvée brings together historic vines on this precise vintage.
The meticulous extraction of pure Meunier defines the identity of the finished wine. Its frank aromas recall the balance and structure of the cuvée réserve. Full contact with the oak imparts a reductive patina. This family estate diversifies its parcel-based approach year by year, deliberately limiting the use of viticultural inputs and preserving natural grass cover between the rows.
