Remi Leroy Reserve' Blanc de Noirs Extra Champagne Brut [2022 Base] (Introductory Price)

Rémi Leroy | Réserve Blanc de Noirs | Extra Brut | Côte des Bar, Aube, Champagne | 85% 2022 Base | Practicing Organic

Jeb Dunnuck: 92 Points — Concentrated Pinot Noir fruit with bright citrus, a finely textured mousse and a dry, mineral-driven finish. Rated on the current 2022-base release.

Gismondi on Wine: 92 Points — An abundance of fresh raspberry and cherry fruit, supported by vibrant limestone minerality and a precise, energetic finish. Praised for its freshness, clarity and versatility at the table.

Rémi Leroy is one of the Côte des Bar's most compelling young grower-producers. After completing graduate studies in oenology and viticulture in Bordeaux, Leroy returned to his family's vineyards in Meurville in the Aube — the southern reaches of Champagne, where Pinot Noir reigns and the soils bear a striking resemblance to those of nearby Chablis. He farms a selection of carefully chosen parcels across the villages of Meurville, Bergères and Fontaine using practicing-organic methods, with an emphasis on precision, transparency and minimal intervention in the cellar.

The Réserve Blanc de Noirs is made from 100% Pinot Noir sourced from vines approximately 30 years old. What sets these vineyards apart is the soil composition: approximately 60% of the fruit comes from Kimmeridgian clay-limestone — the same ancient seabed geology that defines the finest vineyards of Chablis — while the remaining 40% comes from the rarer Portlandian limestone soils found around Meurville. The interplay between these two soil types gives the wine both generous fruit and a firm, chalky mineral backbone.

The current release blends 85% from the 2022 harvest with 15% from 2021, adding complexity and balance while preserving the freshness and ripe red fruit character of the primary base year. Vinification and maturation take place entirely in stainless steel, preserving the clarity and natural character of the Pinot Noir. Malolactic fermentation is completed in full. The wines are generally bottled without fining or filtration. After secondary fermentation in bottle, the Champagne spends approximately 24 months aging on its lees and is disgorged at an exceptionally low dosage of approximately 1 gram per liter — a near-zero addition that keeps the wine bone dry and allows the fruit and mineral terroir to speak without interference.

The wine opens with aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, red cherry and crisp red apple, followed by blood orange, citrus peel, dried flowers and fresh bread. Subtle hints of almond, chalk and gentle spice emerge with air. The palate is energetic and finely textured — a lively mousse carries ripe red fruit and citrus freshness, while Pinot Noir provides structure, depth and a lightly savory character. Cranberry, orange peel, toasted grain and green almond lead into a dry, persistent finish marked by limestone minerality and a refreshing saline quality. Immediately expressive, yet with enough concentration and structure to reward short-term cellaring.

Serve as an aperitif or throughout the meal. Pairs beautifully with charcuterie, smoked salmon, tuna tartare, sushi, roast chicken, pork, duck, mushroom dishes, grilled fish and moderately aged cheeses. Serve well chilled at 46–50°F in a white wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass.

• Producer: Rémi Leroy
• Cuvée: Réserve Blanc de Noirs
• Style: Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs
• Appellation: Champagne, France
• Region: Côte des Bar, Aube
• Villages: Meurville, Bergères and Fontaine
• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
• Base Vintage: 85% 2022 harvest, 15% 2021
• Farming: Practicing organic
• Vine Age: ~30 years
• Soils: 60% Kimmeridgian, 40% Portlandian clay-limestone
• Vinification: Stainless steel; unfined and unfiltered
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: ~24 months
• Dosage: ~1 g/L
• Bottle Size: 750ml

As a multi-vintage Champagne, base vintages, blending proportions, dosage, lees aging period and disgorgement date may vary by release. Critic ratings may apply to different releases or disgorgements of the same cuvée.