Hi-Time's 12 Champagnes of Christmas
This Remi Leroy bottling was the hands-down sales winner at a recent wine bar grower Champagne "Shootout" vaulting it convincingly on to our "best of the best" roster. Remi is young vigneron in the up-and-coming Côte des Bar region of Champagne's Aube district. In Meurville, where Remi Leroy grew up and founded his estate, the Kimmeridgian (i.e. clay-limestone) soils are very low in nutrients which keep his crop yields naturally low. He farms his vineyards organically without any artificial input other than a little SO2. Remi's signature wine, this Extra Brut, is a multi-year blend consisting of 85% from the 2022 harvest and 15% reserve wines, composed as a solera (started in 2009), 80% of which is kept in stainless steel, with 20% in barrel. It contains 65% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 5% Meunier. It was aged for 18 months on lees and finished with a minimal 2 g/L dosage. The result is mouthwatering Champagne that's chockablock with mineral, chalk and saline flavors.
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS - "The NV Champagne Extra Brut comes from the Côte de Bars and is a bright yellow/straw color. Opening to aromas of orange pith, clove spice, white nectarine, and salt, the mousse is lively and adds to the spice and chalky nature of the wine. It’s savory and will benefit from some more time. Drink over the coming 10 years."
Remi Leroy is a young vigneron in the up-and-coming Cote des Bars region of Champagne's Aube emi Leroy is a young vigneron in the up-and-coming Cote des Bars region of Champagne's Aube district. In Meurville, where Remi Leroy grew up and founded his estate, the soils are especially poor and yields are naturally low. Remi works hard in the vineyard to take care of his soil and vines without any artificial input other than a little SO2.
The current version of this wine is a blend of 85% vintage 2022 and 15% reserve wines,composed as a solera (started in 2009) 80% of which is kept in stainless steel, with 20% in barrel. and is composed of 65% Pinot Noir,30% Chardonnay and 5% Meunier. Its discreet bouquet of wild red berries and finish full of autumn baking spices and a solid zing of clove make for a uniquely balanced wine. Remi used to use only stainless steel but has now incorporated 25% old oak barrels as his fermentation and aging vessels in order to encourage a pure expression of his organic fruit and clean, beautiful yeast. Grown on what is the same limestone and clay soils as France's Chablis region (both Kimmeridgian and Portlandian limestones), it is endowed with richness and power, making it easily mistook for an entirely Chardonnay-based Champagne. It has tremendous length with texture and body that opens the doors on nearly all types of cuisine.
Disgorged May 2024.
This Remi Leroy bottling was the hands-down sales winner at a recent wine bar grower Champagne "Shootout" vaulting it convincingly on to our "best of the best" roster. Remi is young vigneron in the up-and-coming Côte des Bar region of Champagne's Aube district. In Meurville, where Remi Leroy grew up and founded his estate, the Kimmeridgian (i.e. clay-limestone) soils are very low in nutrients which keep his crop yields naturally low. He farms his vineyards organically without any artificial input other than a little SO2. Remi's signature wine, this Extra Brut, is a multi-year blend consisting of 85% from the 2022 harvest and 15% reserve wines, composed as a solera (started in 2009), 80% of which is kept in stainless steel, with 20% in barrel. It contains 65% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 5% Meunier. It was aged for 18 months on lees and finished with a minimal 2 g/L dosage. The result is mouthwatering Champagne that's chockablock with mineral, chalk and saline flavors.
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS - "The NV Champagne Extra Brut comes from the Côte de Bars and is a bright yellow/straw color. Opening to aromas of orange pith, clove spice, white nectarine, and salt, the mousse is lively and adds to the spice and chalky nature of the wine. It’s savory and will benefit from some more time. Drink over the coming 10 years."
Remi Leroy is a young vigneron in the up-and-coming Cote des Bars region of Champagne's Aube emi Leroy is a young vigneron in the up-and-coming Cote des Bars region of Champagne's Aube district. In Meurville, where Remi Leroy grew up and founded his estate, the soils are especially poor and yields are naturally low. Remi works hard in the vineyard to take care of his soil and vines without any artificial input other than a little SO2.
The current version of this wine is a blend of 85% vintage 2022 and 15% reserve wines,composed as a solera (started in 2009) 80% of which is kept in stainless steel, with 20% in barrel. and is composed of 65% Pinot Noir,30% Chardonnay and 5% Meunier. Its discreet bouquet of wild red berries and finish full of autumn baking spices and a solid zing of clove make for a uniquely balanced wine. Remi used to use only stainless steel but has now incorporated 25% old oak barrels as his fermentation and aging vessels in order to encourage a pure expression of his organic fruit and clean, beautiful yeast. Grown on what is the same limestone and clay soils as France's Chablis region (both Kimmeridgian and Portlandian limestones), it is endowed with richness and power, making it easily mistook for an entirely Chardonnay-based Champagne. It has tremendous length with texture and body that opens the doors on nearly all types of cuisine.
Disgorged May 2024.
