Marie-Noelle Ledru
Grand Cru Brut Champagne Blend
Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
Lacked the intensity of the Bereche (fruitier too), but certainly had the energy to match. A fruity iteration with an expectedly mineral spine. Notes of green apples, ripe lemons, chalk, river stones, and I feel if you dig deep, the Pinot red fruits. Chalky texture and precise mineral finish. Honestly, the Bereche was better but the purity and precision in this was crazy impressive for an “entry-level” champagne.
Lacked the intensity of the Bereche (fruitier too), but certainly had the energy to match. A fruity iteration with an expectedly mineral spine. Notes of green apples, ripe lemons, chalk, river stones, and I feel if you dig deep, the Pinot red fruits. Chalky texture and precise mineral finish. Honestly, the Bereche was better but the purity and precision in this was crazy impressive for an “entry-level” champagne.
Oct 21st, 2022My then girlfriend and now wife loves this producer. Introduced by AC years ago, I liked the wines back then, but never really loved them. But as with my partner, the sentiment has changed over the years and I'm now left wishing I got more back then. Marie-Noelle Ledru's wines are so scarce today since she has retired from commercial production (although, I hear it's still possible to get them through her inner circle connections). Interestingly enough, my two oldest notes on this cuvee seem to indicate that I found it too broad. How wrong was I?! The key is to decant, which brings out incredible energy and delineation in the wine. Our closing wine for 2019 couldn't be any better - a complex nose of brioche, marzipan, white florals, apples, pears, lemons, and river stones, with hints of cherries and an interesting white pepper note. The palate's painfully precise, textured, and juicy. I just love how the fruit fills out the mid-palate, broadens up a little with some stone fruit notes and creaminess, then finishes with searing acidity and intense chalkiness. Lesson learnt here: always trust the wife. Happy New Year, ya'll!
My then girlfriend and now wife loves this producer. Introduced by AC years ago, I liked the wines back then, but never really loved them. But as with my partner, the sentiment has changed over the years and I'm now left wishing I got more back then. Marie-Noelle Ledru's wines are so scarce today since she has retired from commercial production (although, I hear it's still possible to get them through her inner circle connections). Interestingly enough, my two oldest notes on this cuvee seem to indicate that I found it too broad. How wrong was I?! The key is to decant, which brings out incredible energy and delineation in the wine. Our closing wine for 2019 couldn't be any better - a complex nose of brioche, marzipan, white florals, apples, pears, lemons, and river stones, with hints of cherries and an interesting white pepper note. The palate's painfully precise, textured, and juicy. I just love how the fruit fills out the mid-palate, broadens up a little with some stone fruit notes and creaminess, then finishes with searing acidity and intense chalkiness. Lesson learnt here: always trust the wife. Happy New Year, ya'll!
Jan 1st, 2020
Rich, edgy, and desiring attention. Loved it.
Rich, edgy, and desiring attention. Loved it.
Sep 23rd, 2015
Rich but bright. Oxidative. Very elegant. If you find it, get it.
Rich but bright. Oxidative. Very elegant. If you find it, get it.
Oct 31st, 2014A very good RM, certainly for the prices. The cuvee had everything right except for the bubbles. It was quick to show itself out upon arrival in the flute. The nose struck a fine balance between fruit and autolytic notes. Redcurrant, pear, and brioche. Good dosage at 5 g/l, although it might be interesting to try the extra brut as it did lean on the broader spectrum.
85% Pinot Noir Ambonnay 15% Chardonnay Bouzy. 2013 base with 2012 reserve. One woman show. Vines farmed as naturally as possible. All vinification done by hand. Full malo. No sulphur in dosage.
A very good RM, certainly for the prices. The cuvee had everything right except for the bubbles. It was quick to show itself out upon arrival in the flute. The nose struck a fine balance between fruit and autolytic notes. Redcurrant, pear, and brioche. Good dosage at 5 g/l, although it might be interesting to try the extra brut as it did lean on the broader spectrum.
85% Pinot Noir Ambonnay 15% Chardonnay Bouzy. 2013 base with 2012 reserve. One woman show. Vines farmed as naturally as possible. All vinification done by hand. Full malo. No sulphur in dosage.
