Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV – Grand Cru Champagne

100% GRAND CRU CHARDONNAY! THREE LEGENDARY GRAND CRU VILLAGES! JUST 3.5 HECTARES OF VINEYARDS! THE EXTRAORDINARY LILBERT-FILS BLANC DE BLANCS EXTRA BRUT – ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST EXCITING SMALL GROWERS FOR JUST $150!

Lilbert & Fils Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Grand Cru NV – Champagne, France

RRP $150 per bottle

NOW THIS IS WHAT GREAT GROWER CHAMPAGNE IS ALL ABOUT!

There are Champagnes produced by enormous houses.

There are Champagnes made in quantities that run into millions of bottles.

And then there are Champagnes made by tiny family-owned growers, working extraordinary vineyards, producing wines that express the remarkable character of their terroir.

LILBERT-FILS IS FIRMLY IN THAT FINAL CATEGORY!

From the legendary Côte des Blancs comes one of Champagne's most distinctive expressions of Grand Cru Chardonnay.

And what makes this Champagne so special?

100% GRAND CRU CHARDONNAY!

THREE EXTRAORDINARY GRAND CRU VILLAGES!

CRAMANT!

CHOUILLY!

OIRY!

JUST 3.5 HECTARES OF VINEYARDS!

A FAMILY HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1746!

TRADITIONAL WINEMAKING!

EXTRA BRUT – BEAUTIFULLY LOW DOSAGE!

Think crisp green apple.

Fresh lemon.

White grapefruit.

Delicate white flowers.

Freshly baked brioche.

Subtle almond.

And an extraordinary chalky mineral finish.

All wrapped together in a Champagne with beautifully fine bubbles, wonderful concentration and remarkable freshness.

THIS IS NOT MASS-PRODUCED CHAMPAGNE!

This is Champagne with genuine vineyard pedigree.

Champagne made in exceptionally small quantities.

Champagne that serious Chardonnay lovers seek out for its precision, purity and remarkable mineral character.

AND IT IS JUST $150 A BOTTLE!

Lilbert-Fils – A Tiny Family Estate with an Extraordinary History

The history of Champagne Lilbert-Fils stretches back to 1746.

For generations, the Lilbert family has cultivated vineyards in the celebrated Côte des Blancs.

Today, Bertrand Lilbert continues the family's tradition of producing Champagne on a remarkably small scale.

And when we say small, we really mean it.

JUST 3.5 HECTARES!

That is approximately 8.6 acres of vineyards.

Compare that with the vast vineyard resources available to the major Champagne houses.

Lilbert operates in an entirely different world.

A world where individual vineyard parcels matter.

Where the grower knows the vines.

Where the personality of the fruit determines the wine.

And where production is measured in thousands of bottles rather than millions.

The estate's wines have developed a dedicated following among serious Champagne enthusiasts.

Not because of extravagant marketing.

But because of the quality in the bottle.

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREAT UNDER-THE-RADAR CHARDONNAY PRODUCERS!

Three Grand Cru Villages – Extraordinary Côte des Blancs Terroir

Now here's where this Champagne becomes particularly exciting.

The Chardonnay comes from three magnificent Grand Cru villages.

CRAMANT GRAND CRU!

CHOUILLY GRAND CRU!

OIRY GRAND CRU!

All located in the northern Côte des Blancs.

These are some of the most celebrated Chardonnay-growing vineyards in Champagne.

And each village brings something distinctive.

Cramant Grand Cru

Cramant is renowned for Chardonnay of extraordinary elegance, finesse and mineral precision.

The village's chalk-rich soils contribute to wines with beautiful freshness, delicate floral character and remarkable length.

Chouilly Grand Cru

Chouilly often produces Chardonnay with a slightly broader, more generous personality.

Ripe orchard fruit.

Beautiful texture.

And wonderful balance.

Oiry Grand Cru

Oiry is known for producing Chardonnay with purity, vibrant acidity and finely defined mineral character.

Together, these three villages create something magnificent.

THE FINESSE OF CRAMANT!

THE GENEROSITY OF CHOUILLY!

THE PRECISION OF OIRY!

THREE GRAND CRU VILLAGES – ONE EXTRAORDINARY CHAMPAGNE!

100% Grand Cru Chardonnay – The Beauty of Blanc de Blancs

One of the most important details about this Champagne is the grape variety.

100% CHARDONNAY!

Blanc de Blancs means a white Champagne made entirely from white grapes.

And here, that grape is Chardonnay.

Chardonnay is celebrated in Champagne for its elegance.

Freshness.

And extraordinary ability to express the character of the region's chalk soils.

Fresh lemon.

Green apple.

White flowers.

And beautifully defined mineral structure.

But the best Chardonnay also possesses remarkable concentration.

Texture.

And ageing potential.

Lilbert-Fils captures that balance beautifully.

PURE GRAND CRU CHARDONNAY – WITH EXTRAORDINARY CHALKY MINERAL PRECISION!

A Remarkably Small Vineyard Holding

One of the most compelling aspects of Lilbert-Fils is the scale of the operation.

The family farms approximately 3.5 hectares.

That is tiny by Champagne standards.

And these vineyards are divided among Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry.

Some of the estate's parcels contain vines planted many decades ago.

The average vine age has been reported at approximately 45 years, with certain parcels dating to the 1930s.

These mature vineyards contribute to the concentration and character of the estate's wines.

But the real attraction is the attention to detail.

Bertrand Lilbert is closely involved in the vineyard work and winemaking.

This is Champagne produced with an intimate understanding of its origins.

TINY PRODUCTION. EXTRAORDINARY VINEYARDS. GENUINE GROWER CHAMPAGNE!

Only the First Pressing – A Commitment to Quality

Another fascinating detail about Lilbert-Fils is the approach to pressing.

ONLY THE FIRST PRESSING!

The estate uses the first pressing of the grapes for its Champagnes.

This first juice is prized for its quality, purity and balance.

According to the estate's importer, the second pressing is sold rather than incorporated into the Lilbert cuvées.

That is a remarkable detail.

It demonstrates the family's commitment to the style of Champagne they want to produce.

A Champagne built around finesse.

Precision.

And beautifully defined Chardonnay character.

ONLY THE FIRST PRESSING – BECAUSE QUALITY COMES FIRST!

Stainless Steel Fermentation – Pure Expression of Chardonnay

Lilbert-Fils takes a traditional, restrained approach to winemaking.

The wines are fermented in tank.

There is no attempt to dominate the Chardonnay with pronounced oak flavours.

Instead, the emphasis is on preserving the natural character of the fruit.

The citrus.

The floral notes.

The purity.

And the distinctive chalky minerality.

The estate's published technical information also describes full malolactic fermentation for this cuvée.

This helps integrate the acidity and contributes to a beautifully balanced palate.

But the Champagne remains wonderfully fresh.

Focused.

And precise.

PURE CHARDONNAY – WITH NOTHING TO DISTRACT FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY TERROIR!

Reserve Wines – The Complexity of Multiple Harvests

Another important part of Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs is the use of reserve wines.

The estate typically blends wines from several consecutive harvests.

This brings together the freshness of younger Chardonnay with the depth and complexity of more mature wines.

For the documented 2021-base release, approximately half the blend came from reserve wines.

The reserve programme includes a perpetual blend with a history stretching back to the 1980s.

The result is a Champagne that combines energy with maturity.

Fresh citrus.

Crisp orchard fruit.

Delicate pastry.

And subtle savoury complexity.

The precise proportions vary between releases.

But the philosophy remains consistent.

GRAND CRU CHARDONNAY WITH BEAUTIFULLY INTEGRATED RESERVE-WINE COMPLEXITY!

At Least Three Years on Lees – Extraordinary Texture

Now here's another important detail.

AT LEAST THREE YEARS ON LEES!

The estate's published information describes a minimum of three years of lees ageing for its regular Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs.

During this period, the Champagne develops additional complexity.

The bubbles become finer.

The palate gains texture.

And subtle savoury notes emerge.

Fresh brioche.

Delicate toast.

And almond pastry.

But the Chardonnay retains its beautiful freshness.

The result is a Champagne with wonderful balance.

Creamy texture.

Vibrant acidity.

And a remarkably long mineral finish.

THREE YEARS OF PATIENT MATURATION – AND THE RESULT IS MAGNIFICENT!

Extra Brut – A Beautifully Restrained Dosage

Another defining feature of this Champagne is its Extra Brut style.

EXTRA BRUT!

This means the Champagne is finished with a particularly restrained dosage.

The dosage is the small addition made after disgorgement to balance the wine.

Extra Brut Champagnes contain no more than 6 grams of sugar per litre.

That allows the natural freshness and mineral character to remain at the forefront.

Lilbert has progressively reduced dosage in response to warmer growing seasons.

Published releases have included dosages of 3 and 4 grams per litre.

The documented May 2024 disgorgement was finished with just 3 grams per litre.

The result is beautifully dry.

Fresh.

And wonderfully precise.

LOW DOSAGE – MAXIMUM EXPRESSION OF GRAND CRU CHARDONNAY!

Green Apple, Fresh Lemon, White Flowers and Extraordinary Chalky Minerality

Now this is where Lilbert-Fils really comes into its own.

In the glass, the Champagne displays a beautiful pale-gold colour.

The bubbles are fine and persistent.

And the aromas are wonderfully elegant.

Crisp green apple.

Fresh lemon.

White grapefruit.

And delicate white flowers.

Then come the more complex characters.

Fresh brioche.

Subtle almond.

And gentle pastry.

On the palate, the wine is wonderfully precise.

There is beautiful Chardonnay concentration.

A fine, creamy mousse.

And remarkable freshness.

But what really distinguishes the wine is the mineral structure.

Chalk.

Salinity.

And a beautifully persistent finish.

PURE, PRECISE AND EXTRAORDINARILY MINERAL – WITH THE ELEGANCE OF GREAT CÔTE DES BLANCS CHARDONNAY!

This is exactly what serious grower Champagne should be.

A Magnificent Champagne for Food

One of the great attractions of Lilbert-Fils Extra Brut is its versatility at the table.

Its low dosage and mineral precision make it particularly exciting with seafood.

Freshly Shucked Oysters

A magnificent pairing with the wine's chalky, saline finish.

Kingfish Crudo

Beautiful with citrus and delicate herbs.

Sashimi

An outstanding match for the wine's purity and freshness.

Pan-Seared Scallops

Wonderful with browned butter.

Blue Swimmer Crab

The mineral precision complements the sweetness of fresh crab.

Grilled Prawns

A magnificent pairing with lemon and olive oil.

Lobster with Lemon Butter

The Champagne's creamy texture complements lobster beautifully.

Aged Comté

A wonderful pairing with the wine's subtle nutty complexity.

Serve in a proper white-wine glass at approximately 9–11°C to appreciate the complexity.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are passionate about discovering wines that represent the very best of their regions.

And Lilbert-Fils is exactly the sort of producer we love.

A tiny family estate.

Extraordinary vineyards.

Traditional winemaking.

And wines that express their terroir with remarkable purity.

First, there is the producer.

A FAMILY HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1746!

Then there are the vineyards.

JUST 3.5 HECTARES!

Then there are the villages.

CRAMANT! CHOUILLY! OIRY!

Then there is the grape variety.

100% GRAND CRU CHARDONNAY!

Then there is the pressing.

ONLY THE FIRST PRESSING!

Then there is the maturation.

AT LEAST THREE YEARS ON LEES!

Then there is the style.

EXTRA BRUT – BEAUTIFULLY LOW DOSAGE!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $150 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves great Chardonnay, serious grower Champagne and wines with genuine character, this is a magnificent discovery.

A Champagne with history.

A Champagne with pedigree.

And a Champagne that delivers the extraordinary character of some of the Côte des Blancs' finest Grand Cru vineyards.

100% GRAND CRU CHARDONNAY. THREE LEGENDARY VILLAGES. JUST 3.5 HECTARES. AT LEAST THREE YEARS ON LEES. JUST $150.

Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV – one of Champagne's most exciting small growers and a magnificent addition to the Liquid Vibe collection.

Wine Details

• Producer: Lilbert-Fils

• Wine: Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Grand Cru

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Champagne, France

• Subregion: Côte des Blancs

• Villages: Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry

• Classification: Grand Cru

• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

• Style: Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Base Wine Fermentation: Stainless steel tanks

• Malolactic Fermentation: Full, according to published technical information

• Reserve Wines: Multi-vintage blend; approximately 50% reserve wine in the documented 2021-base release

• Lees Ageing: Minimum three years, according to the estate's importer

• Dosage: 3 g/L in the documented May 2024 disgorgement; may vary

• Alcohol: Approximately 12%

• Aromas: Green apple, lemon, grapefruit, white flowers, brioche and almond

• Palate: Precise, elegant and mineral, with fine bubbles and a long chalky finish

• Published Reviews: N/A

• RRP: $150 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, kingfish, sashimi, scallops, crab, prawns and lobster

• Serving Temperature: 9–11°C

• Drinking: Enjoy now or cellar carefully for further development