Leclerc Briant Brut Réserve NV Champagne – 94 Points James Suckling

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST EXCITING BIODYNAMIC PRODUCERS – JUST $135!

94 Points – JamesSuckling.com

Champagne Leclerc Briant Brut Réserve NV – Épernay, Champagne, France

RRP $135 per bottle

Now this is seriously exciting Champagne!

There are Champagne houses that produce excellent wines.

There are Champagne houses with extraordinary histories.

And then there are producers that challenge the way Champagne is made, pushing the boundaries of viticulture and winemaking while remaining absolutely committed to quality.

Leclerc Briant belongs firmly in that last category.

This is one of Champagne's most fascinating independent houses.

A pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture.

A producer with an extraordinary commitment to expressing terroir.

And a house responsible for some of the most distinctive and exciting Champagnes being produced today.

Their Brut Réserve is a magnificent introduction to the estate.

Think ripe white peach.

Fresh pear tart.

Golden apple.

Toasted brioche.

Almond pastry.

Subtle spice.

And an extraordinary mineral freshness.

All wrapped together in a beautifully textured, wonderfully dry Champagne with exceptional depth and persistence.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

JUST $135 A BOTTLE!

If you're someone who loves discovering exceptional grower-style and independent Champagnes beyond the familiar big-name houses, this is a bottle you absolutely need to know about.

Leclerc Briant – A Remarkable Champagne House

The history of Leclerc Briant stretches back to 1872, when the family's winegrowing story began in the village of Cumières.

Over the following generations, the family developed its vineyards and established a reputation for producing expressive Champagne.

But what makes Leclerc Briant particularly remarkable is its commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture.

Long before these approaches became fashionable, the estate was exploring ways to farm its vineyards with greater respect for nature.

The house became an important pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Champagne.

Today, Leclerc Briant is based in Épernay, one of the most famous centres of Champagne production.

The estate has developed an international reputation for wines that combine exceptional vineyard quality, thoughtful winemaking and a wonderfully distinctive personality.

These are not Champagnes made simply to follow a formula.

They are Champagnes made with conviction.

And that is precisely what makes them so interesting.

Organic and Biodynamic – A Different Philosophy

One of the most important things to understand about Leclerc Briant is its approach to the vineyard.

The estate places enormous importance on organic and biodynamic farming.

Healthy soils.

Natural biodiversity.

Balanced vines.

And a commitment to allowing the vineyard to express its individual character.

The objective is to produce fruit with purity, concentration and natural energy.

For Champagne, this is particularly important.

Great sparkling wine needs more than acidity and bubbles.

It needs flavour.

Structure.

Texture.

And a sense of place.

Leclerc Briant's approach is designed to preserve those qualities from the vineyard through to the finished Champagne.

And you can see that philosophy reflected in the remarkable personality of the Brut Réserve.

Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay – The Three Great Champagne Grapes

The Brut Réserve brings together Champagne's three classic grape varieties.

Pinot Noir.

Pinot Meunier.

Chardonnay.

Each plays an important role.

Pinot Noir provides structure, depth and richness.

Think ripe orchard fruit, red apple and subtle savoury complexity.

Pinot Meunier contributes generosity, aromatic expression and beautifully approachable fruit.

Fresh pear.

Golden apple.

And delicate floral characters.

Chardonnay provides finesse, precision and refreshing acidity.

Lemon zest.

White flowers.

And mineral tension.

Together, these three varieties create a Champagne with wonderful balance.

Generous enough to be immediately delicious, but structured and complex enough to reward serious attention.

The exact blend can change between releases, reflecting the character of the harvest and the house's evolving style.

More Than Just an Entry-Level Champagne

One of the things we love about Leclerc Briant is that its Réserve is anything but ordinary.

For many large Champagne houses, the non-vintage Brut is designed primarily for consistency.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

But Leclerc Briant brings a particularly individual approach to its Réserve.

There is an emphasis on vineyard character.

Beautiful fruit.

Texture.

And a wonderfully dry, mineral finish.

The wine is made using traditional bottle fermentation, allowing the bubbles to develop naturally during its second fermentation in bottle.

Lees ageing contributes additional richness and complexity.

The result is a Champagne that offers far more than simple freshness.

You get the delicious fruit.

But also toasted pastry.

Subtle spice.

Minerality.

And a beautiful savoury dimension.

This is a Champagne that feels genuinely serious without losing its enormous drinkability.

Beautifully Dry – With Remarkable Freshness

One of the defining characteristics of Leclerc Briant's Réserve style is its restrained dosage.

Rather than using sweetness to soften the Champagne, the emphasis is on allowing the fruit, acidity and texture to shine.

The result is beautifully fresh.

The palate has generous fruit concentration.

But the finish remains wonderfully dry and precise.

There is a distinctive mineral character.

A little saline freshness.

And a lovely sense of tension that keeps the wine vibrant from beginning to end.

Richness without heaviness.

Complexity without losing freshness.

A beautifully balanced Champagne.

White Peach, Pear Tart, Brioche and Toasted Almonds

Now this is where the Brut Réserve becomes particularly exciting.

The aromas are immediately inviting.

Ripe white peach.

Fresh pear.

Golden apple.

And a delicate floral lift.

Then come the more complex characters.

Freshly baked brioche.

Pear tart.

Toasted almonds.

Subtle pastry.

And a lovely touch of spice.

There is a beautiful creamy quality to the wine.

But underneath that richness lies a refreshing citrus and mineral backbone.

On the palate, the wine is wonderfully expressive.

The fruit is generous.

The texture is refined.

And the bubbles are fine and beautifully integrated.

There is a lovely progression from ripe orchard fruit through to savoury pastry and chalky minerality.

The finish is long, fresh and wonderfully persistent.

This is Champagne with real depth, texture and personality.

94 Points – JamesSuckling.com

94 POINTS – ANDRII STETSIUK, JAMESSUCKLING.COM

The Brut Réserve has received an outstanding 94-point review from JamesSuckling.com.

The assessment highlights its beautiful combination of richness and precision.

White peach.

Pear tart.

Toasted complexity.

And a wonderfully creamy aromatic character.

But what makes the wine particularly impressive is the way it maintains freshness through the palate.

There is genuine depth.

Layered complexity.

And a long, energetic finish.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

A terrific result for a Champagne that delivers so much individuality and character.

95 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

An earlier disgorgement of Leclerc Briant Brut Réserve also received an impressive:

95 POINTS – HUON HOOKE, THE REAL REVIEW

Hooke highlighted the Champagne's dry, savoury personality, toasted-nut complexity and impressive length.

His assessment also recognised the wine's serious structure and potential to develop with age.

It's another indication of the quality Leclerc Briant is capable of delivering.

Because this is a non-vintage Champagne, individual disgorgements can differ.

But the consistent theme is clear.

Leclerc Briant makes beautifully distinctive Champagne with genuine depth and complexity.

A Champagne for People Who Love Great Wine

There is something particularly appealing about Leclerc Briant.

It's a Champagne house that attracts people who are genuinely interested in wine.

People who appreciate vineyard character.

People who love texture and complexity.

And people who want to discover something beyond the most familiar labels.

The Brut Réserve is a wonderful example of this philosophy.

It's beautifully approachable.

But there is plenty going on beneath the surface.

The more time you spend with the wine, the more its complexity becomes apparent.

Fresh fruit.

Toasted pastry.

Subtle spice.

Mineral precision.

And a wonderfully dry finish.

This is a Champagne for people who love Champagne – but also for people who simply love great wine.

Outstanding with Food

The combination of fruit concentration, texture and refreshing acidity makes Leclerc Briant Brut Réserve a magnificent food Champagne.

Fresh Oysters

The wine's citrus and mineral freshness complement the natural salinity of oysters.

Pan-Seared Scallops

A wonderful match for scallops served with browned butter.

Lobster with Lemon Butter

The Champagne's creamy texture and refreshing acidity work beautifully with rich lobster.

Kingfish Crudo

Excellent with delicate raw fish, citrus and olive oil.

Roast Chicken

Particularly good with roast chicken, herbs and a light roasting jus.

Pork Belly

The Champagne's acidity cuts through the richness, while its savoury complexity complements the roasted flavours.

Mushroom Tart

The toasted pastry and mineral characters work beautifully with mushrooms.

Aged Comté

A magnificent pairing that brings out the Champagne's nutty and savoury notes.

And of course, it's a beautiful Champagne to enjoy on its own.

Serve it in a proper white-wine glass rather than a narrow flute.

Allow the wine to open.

And enjoy the remarkable complexity.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are constantly searching for Champagnes that deliver something genuinely special.

Not simply famous names.

Not just impressive packaging.

But exceptional wine.

And Leclerc Briant Brut Réserve is exactly the sort of Champagne we love recommending.

First, there is the producer.

LECLERC BRIANT – ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST FASCINATING INDEPENDENT HOUSES.

Then there is the philosophy.

A PIONEER OF ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE.

Then there are the grapes.

PINOT NOIR, PINOT MEUNIER AND CHARDONNAY.

Then there is the winemaking.

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION AND THOUGHTFUL LEES AGEING.

Then there is the flavour.

WHITE PEACH, PEAR TART, TOASTED BRIOCHE, ALMOND PASTRY AND BEAUTIFUL MINERAL FRESHNESS.

Then there is the recognition.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $135 A BOTTLE!

This is a magnificent Champagne for anyone wanting to discover a more individual expression of the region.

Beautifully textured.

Wonderfully fresh.

Complex.

Elegant.

And packed with personality.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING. ORGANIC CHAMPAGNE. BEAUTIFUL FRUIT. SERIOUS COMPLEXITY. JUST $135.

Leclerc Briant Brut Réserve NV – an outstanding introduction to one of Champagne's most exciting independent producers and a magnificent addition to the Liquid Vibe range.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Leclerc Briant

• Wine: Brut Réserve

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Champagne, France

• Producer Location: Épernay

• Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay

• Viticulture: Organically grown grapes; producer with a longstanding biodynamic philosophy

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Style: Dry, textured Champagne

• Dosage: Low dosage; varies by release

• Aromas: White peach, pear tart, golden apple, toasted brioche and almonds

• Palate: Creamy, fresh and mineral, with fine bubbles and a persistent dry finish

• Alcohol: Approximately 12%

• Critic Score: 94 Points - JamesSuckling.com

• RRP: $135 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, scallops, lobster, roast chicken, pork belly and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: 10–12°C

• Drinking Style: Beautiful to enjoy now, with further ageing potential depending on disgorgement