Leclerc Briant Rose Brut Réserve NV Champagne – 94 Points James Suckling

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST FASCINATING BIODYNAMIC PRODUCERS – MAGNIFICENT ROSÉ FOR JUST $160!

94 Points – JamesSuckling.com

Leclerc Briant Rosé Brut Réserve NV – Champagne, France

RRP $160 per bottle

Now this is the sort of Champagne that gets us genuinely excited at Liquid Vibe!

There are plenty of excellent rosé Champagnes in the world.

But every so often, you discover something with a completely different personality.

Something that combines beautiful fruit, remarkable elegance and genuine complexity with a fascinating philosophy behind its production.

Leclerc Briant Rosé is exactly that sort of Champagne.

From one of Champagne's most progressive independent houses comes a beautifully refined rosé that demonstrates just how exciting Chardonnay-dominant pink Champagne can be.

Think delicate white peach.

Fresh strawberries.

Crisp red apple.

Wild raspberries.

Fresh lemon zest.

A little cantaloupe.

And a wonderfully subtle mineral character.

All wrapped together with beautifully fine bubbles, elegant texture and a long, refreshing finish.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

JUST $160 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves discovering serious, individual Champagnes beyond the familiar grandes marques, this is an outstanding bottle to explore.

Leclerc Briant – One of Champagne's Most Fascinating Houses

The history of Leclerc Briant stretches back to 1872.

The family's winegrowing story began in Cumières, a village in the heart of Champagne's Marne Valley.

Over the following generations, the family developed an extraordinary understanding of the region's vineyards.

But what really sets Leclerc Briant apart is its willingness to challenge convention.

While many producers were focused on increasing production and improving efficiency, Leclerc Briant was exploring a different approach.

A greater respect for nature.

An emphasis on vineyard health.

And a belief that exceptional Champagne begins with exceptional fruit.

The house became one of Champagne's pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture.

Today, Leclerc Briant is based in Épernay and continues to produce some of the region's most distinctive Champagnes.

This is a producer with history, conviction and an extraordinary commitment to quality.

A Pioneer of Organic and Biodynamic Champagne

Leclerc Briant began embracing organic viticulture during the 1960s.

That was an extraordinary decision at the time.

Organic farming was far from mainstream in Champagne.

But the family believed that healthier soils and more balanced vineyards could produce better grapes.

During the 1980s, the estate also began adopting biodynamic principles.

The philosophy places enormous importance on treating the vineyard as a living ecosystem.

Healthy soils.

Natural biodiversity.

Balanced vines.

And careful farming practices that encourage the vineyard to express its individual character.

The objective is not simply environmental sustainability.

It's also about producing fruit with purity, energy and a genuine sense of place.

And that philosophy is at the heart of Leclerc Briant's remarkable Champagnes.

Hervé Jestin – One of Champagne's Most Interesting Winemakers

Another important part of the Leclerc Briant story is its winemaking.

The house works with renowned Champagne oenologist Hervé Jestin.

Jestin is particularly associated with a thoughtful, low-intervention approach to winemaking.

The objective is to preserve the character of the fruit rather than overwhelm it with winemaking techniques.

For Leclerc Briant, that means paying close attention to the balance between fruit, acidity, texture and mineral expression.

The resulting Champagnes have a wonderfully distinctive personality.

They are often beautifully dry.

Remarkably fresh.

And full of subtle complexity.

Champagnes that reward serious attention, but remain absolutely delicious to drink.

Chardonnay-Dominant Rosé – Something Wonderfully Different

One of the most fascinating things about Leclerc Briant Rosé is its grape composition.

Many rosé Champagnes rely heavily on Pinot Noir for their colour, structure and red-fruit character.

Leclerc Briant takes a different approach.

Its documented Brut Rosé blend is dominated by Chardonnay, with a small proportion of Pinot Noir.

95% CHARDONNAY.

5% PINOT NOIR.

This is a particularly elegant approach to rosé Champagne.

Chardonnay brings beautiful freshness.

Citrus precision.

Floral delicacy.

And a wonderfully mineral backbone.

The small proportion of Pinot Noir adds colour, subtle red-fruit aromas and an additional layer of texture.

The result is a rosé Champagne with remarkable finesse.

Rather than being dominated by ripe red berries, the wine combines delicate fruit with beautiful acidity and chalky freshness.

A rosé Champagne for lovers of elegance and precision.

Chardonnay from Chouilly and Montgueux

The Chardonnay in the documented Brut Rosé blend comes from two fascinating Champagne growing areas.

Chouilly and Montgueux.

Chouilly is one of the celebrated Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs.

It is particularly famous for Chardonnay capable of producing wines with exceptional finesse, freshness and mineral character.

Montgueux, near Troyes, is another important Chardonnay terroir.

Its chalk-rich soils and distinctive growing conditions can produce Chardonnay with beautiful fruit concentration and aromatic expression.

Together, these two sources contribute to the Champagne's distinctive personality.

The Pinot Noir component comes from Les Riceys in the Aube.

This area is particularly celebrated for expressive Pinot Noir.

A fascinating combination of Chardonnay precision and delicate Pinot Noir fruit.

Traditional Bottle Fermentation and Extended Lees Ageing

Leclerc Briant Rosé is made using the traditional Champagne method.

The second fermentation takes place inside the bottle.

This is the process that creates Champagne's beautiful natural bubbles.

But the real complexity develops during the ageing that follows.

The documented Brut Rosé release spent approximately two to three years ageing on its lees.

These are the spent yeast cells remaining after fermentation.

Over time, lees ageing contributes additional texture and complexity.

Fresh pastry.

Subtle brioche.

Toasted almond.

And a wonderfully refined mouthfeel.

The result is a Champagne that combines the freshness of Chardonnay with the richness and sophistication of extended bottle ageing.

Beautifully fresh fruit, fine bubbles and genuine Champagne complexity.

Delicate Pink Colour, Beautiful Fruit and Wonderful Precision

One of the first things you'll notice about Leclerc Briant Rosé is its beautiful colour.

A delicate, pale pink.

Elegant rather than deeply coloured.

And immediately inviting.

The aromas reveal a wonderfully refined expression of rosé Champagne.

White peach.

Fresh red apple.

Wild strawberry.

Delicate raspberry.

And a little fresh citrus.

Then come the more subtle characters.

Light pastry.

A hint of almond.

Delicate floral notes.

And an intriguing mineral freshness.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully poised.

The fruit is pure and expressive.

The bubbles are fine and elegant.

And the acidity provides wonderful tension.

There is a lovely sense of texture through the middle of the palate.

But the finish remains refreshingly dry and precise.

This is rosé Champagne with finesse, elegance and genuine sophistication.

94 Points – JamesSuckling.com

An impressive endorsement for one of Champagne's most individual rosé styles.

A Serious Alternative to Famous Rosé Champagnes

Rosé Champagne has become one of the most sought-after categories in the sparkling wine world.

And some of the most famous examples command extraordinary prices.

But there is a fascinating world of independent Champagne producers making exceptional wines with their own distinctive personalities.

Leclerc Briant is one of them.

Rather than relying on brand recognition alone, the house places enormous emphasis on vineyard quality, thoughtful winemaking and individuality.

Its rosé is a magnificent example.

Beautifully delicate.

Wonderfully dry.

Fresh and mineral.

Yet with enough fruit and texture to deliver genuine drinking pleasure.

For anyone who enjoys discovering Champagne beyond the familiar labels, Leclerc Briant is a producer absolutely worth knowing.

Outstanding with Food

One of the great strengths of elegant rosé Champagne is its versatility at the table.

The combination of Chardonnay freshness, delicate red fruit and refined texture makes Leclerc Briant particularly impressive with food.

Fresh Oysters

The mineral freshness and lively acidity complement the natural salinity of oysters.

Kingfish Crudo

Beautiful with kingfish, citrus and a little olive oil.

Pan-Seared Scallops

The delicate fruit and refined texture work wonderfully with the sweetness of scallops.

Lobster with Lemon Butter

An outstanding pairing that brings together richness, acidity and elegant fruit.

Tuna Tartare

The subtle red-fruit character is particularly appealing with fresh tuna.

Smoked Salmon

The Champagne's freshness balances the richness of smoked salmon.

Duck Breast

A wonderful pairing, particularly with a delicate berry jus.

Prosciutto and Antipasto

The refreshing acidity and subtle fruit complement cured meats beautifully.

Soft-Rind Cheeses

Excellent with Brie, Camembert and fresh goat's cheese.

And of course, this is a magnificent Champagne to enjoy on its own.

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

Allow the aromas to develop.

And enjoy its beautiful complexity.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we're constantly searching for Champagnes that offer something genuinely special.

Not simply famous names.

Not just impressive packaging.

But exceptional wine.

And Leclerc Briant Rosé 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 is the winemaking.

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION AND EXTENDED LEES AGEING.

Then there is the style.

BEAUTIFULLY ELEGANT, CHARDONNAY-DOMINANT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE.

Then there is the flavour.

WHITE PEACH, WILD STRAWBERRIES, RED APPLE, CITRUS AND BEAUTIFUL MINERAL FRESHNESS.

Then there is the recognition.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $160 A BOTTLE!

This is a Champagne with genuine individuality.

Beautifully made.

Elegant.

Complex.

And wonderfully refreshing.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING. BIODYNAMIC CHAMPAGNE HERITAGE. DELICATE ROSÉ FRUIT. EXTRAORDINARY FINESSE. JUST $160.

Leclerc Briant Rosé – a magnificent expression of one of Champagne's most exciting independent houses and an outstanding addition to the Liquid Vibe range.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Leclerc Briant

• Wine: Rosé Brut Réserve NV

• Region: Champagne, France

• Producer Location: Épernay

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Grape Varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

• Documented Brut Rosé Blend: 95% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Noir

• Chardonnay Sources: Chouilly and Montgueux

• Pinot Noir Source: Les Riceys

• Viticulture: Organic and biodynamic practices

• Winemaking: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Lees Ageing: Approximately 24–36 months in the documented Brut Rosé release

• Style: Dry, elegant rosé Champagne

• Colour: Delicate pale pink

• Aromas: White peach, red apple, strawberry, raspberry and citrus

• Palate: Fine bubbles, fresh fruit, mineral precision and an elegant dry finish

• Alcohol: Approximately 12%

• Critic Recognition: 94 Points – JamesSuckling.com, Rosé Extra Brut review

• RRP: $160 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, kingfish, scallops, lobster, tuna tartare, duck and soft cheeses

• Serving Temperature: 9–11°C