Champagne Derrière l'Eglise 2021 Domaine Léon | Champagne

The cuvée Derrière l'Église from the Léon wine estate is a Blanc de Noirs 100% Pinot Noir from the eponymous parcel in Landreville on the Côte des Bar, a terroir renowned for its limono-argilo-calcareous soils that favor a marked mineral expression. This 2021 vintage, the third produced by Léon's great-grandson Clément Robert, embodies his vision of natural winemaking, with no superfluous inputs, and in line with organic and biodynamic viticultural methods.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : The grapes for this cuvée benefited from a particularly propitious climate in 2021, with warm days and cool nights in the run-up to the harvest, enabling us to achieve a perfect balance between acidity and aromatic concentration. Vinified with indigenous yeasts and aged for 11 months in oak barrels, the cuvée was then aged on its lees for 17 months in bottle before being disgorged by hand, with no added dosage, in order to best preserve the characteristics of the terroir.

The nose is complex, intense and precise, with a dominant of red fruits and small wild berries characteristic of Pinot Noir. Notes of wild strawberry, raspberry and blackberry mingle subtly with floral and spicy aromas, including a touch of violet, white pepper and clove.

The palate is both powerful and delicate, with a perfect balance between freshness and intensity. The red fruit aromas continue, enriched by subtle notes of undergrowth and truffle that add depth. The texture is silky, almost creamy. The minerality of the limestone soil is reflected in a fine saline structure and a freshness that lingers throughout the tasting.