Founded in 1872 by Lucien Leclerc, the house is one of the pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture in Champagne. If it was only a winemaker's house for almost 80 years, it was transformed into a négociant in 1955 when it moved to Epernay under Bertrand Leclerc, the founder's great-grandson, i.e. a house that not only produces Champagne but also buys or sells grapes or wine.
Although the house was sold in 2012 to the American couple Mark Nunelly and Denise Dupré, both great lovers of French wines, Frédéric Zeimett, a true son of Champagne, still calls the shots in the vineyard and cellar.
In general, little has changed, the production is still very manageable. In the cellar located deep below the surface and about a kilometer long rest the fruits of their labour. The grapes come from 14 hectares farmed according to biodynamic criteria, mainly Grand Cru sites in Mailly and Le Mesnil and 1er Cru sites in Hautvilliers. Since the late 1950s, organic certification has been sought, and today the vineyards are biodynamically certified. Grapes are purchased only from vintners who work according to the same principles.
Partial ageing takes place in new barriques for the benefit of a more finessed and creamy character of the Champagne. Because of the high quality of the base wines, the Champagnes require little more than 3.5 to 4 grams of dosage for perfect balance.
Produced are "Bruts" and "Extra Bruts" without vintage, white or rosé, a rosé "Extra Brut" exclusively from Pinot Noir, rather rare in Champagne.
In addition, there are two single-vintage Champagnes as well as various very unusual and high-class Champagne specialties, such as a "Solera" based on the Spanish model or the extremely precious and rare "Abyss". This unoaked vintage Champagne matures for about five years at a depth of 60 meters in the Atlantic Ocean. And this is not simply marketing, but a reference to the fact that Champagne, with its terroir, was itself created from the legacy of an ocean.
Among critics, connoisseurs and enthusiasts, the exclusive Champagnes of Leclerc Briant enjoy an excellent reputation.
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