Grower Club May 2021

BERTRAND-DELESPIERRE

Didier Bertrand and Chantal Delespierre make for a fabulous husband and wife team, one that has managed their 24-acre estate between Reims and Épernay, in the Montagne de Reims, since 1980. Now their work passes on to their children, Adrien and Clémence, and in the manner that has become common in the new generation of producers they are focused on lower dosage levels, increasing the importance of organic work in the vines, and focusing in on showcasing the unique micro- of each of the four villages.

Chamery is where the majority of their vines are located and almost all of their fruit comes from Premier Cru soil. They farm near equal amounts of the three main Champagne grape varieties, as refected in their cuvees, with a slight edge to more . Their work in the achieved an HVE certifcation (Haute Valeur Environnementale) for sustainability in 2019. The vines, which average 30 years in age, have never been treated with herbicides or chemicals and will be certifed Organic soon. Adrien and Clémence also stick to their parents' traditional methods in the cellar, delicately the grapes in small lots using a wooden basket press as well as generally eschewing malolactic conversion to preserve freshness and aromatics. Bertrand-Delespierre ‘Enfant de la Montagne’ 1er Cru Extra Brut NV Pinot Noir + + Pinot Meunier Chamery, Marne NV

TASTING NOTES: Tart yellow plums, not quite fully ripe strawberries, snappy green apple and ginger spiced pie crust. Fully focused with a mouthful of minerality and persistent acid, but not at all a lean as the mouthfeel stretches wide across the tongue. A near perfect see-saw balance between meyer lemon fowers and zest opposite goji berries, hibiscus fowers and sour cherries. Beautifully blended, fres on all cylinders, shows of a spectrum of texture from ripe to crunchy.

FINE DETAILS: 35% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 30% Pinot Meunier, with 60% coming from the 2014 and 40% Reserve (10/11/12/13). The wine spent 24 months en tirage before being disgorged in January 2020. Dosage: 4g/L

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Bertrand-Delespierre ‘L’Ame’ 1er Cru Extra Brut 2013 Pinot Noir + Chardonnay + Pinot Meunier Chamery, Marne NV

TASTING NOTES: A no hold barred, zero time for shyness example of bountiful fruit in a Champagne without any need for sweetness from anything more than the minimal dosage used. Speaks wonderfully to the spectacular fruit the family managed to grow this . Richness from a fresh baked brioche, but with bitter herbs sweetly folded into the dough. Lots of chalky mineral background and lemongrass, very surprising in such a blend versus a Blanc des Blancs. The red fruits shine through on the fnish with fresh picked blackberry notes and pomegranate sprinkled with a slight powdered mushroom umami. Simply voluptuous, complex and delicious vintage Champagne.

FINE DETAILS: Equal thirds of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier & Chardonnay. Aged on the lees for 4 years. Dosage : 3g/l and Zeromalolactic fermentation.