From: Champagne, France
Varietals: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes & Critical Acclaim: This impressive champagne (V20, disgorgement date 01/20/2022) gives the impression of impeccable balance and precision, showing effusive fruit, citrus, floral, spice, and mineral characteristics that play off each other extremely well. Medium-weight, supple, but chiseled, with an attaque of citrus and mineral that belies the generous red fruits, shortbread, and spice notes. Though this wine starts this pretty, I suggest letting it open by sitting it on your table without a stopper or ice and watching it unfold. It only takes twenty minutes to appreciate the vinous quality of this wine, and after an hour or two, it’s even more impressive. –E. Lyman
“Disgorged in May 2019 with 2.5 grams per liter dosage, Renoir’s NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru Le Terroir is a 50-50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the slopes of Verzy, some 20% of which was vinified and matured in barrel. Unwinding in the glass with a lovely bouquet of Meyer lemon, pastry cream, yellow pear, dried white flowers, and shortbread, it’s full-bodied, powerful, and vinous, with a textural attack that segues into a deep and incisive mid-palate, complemented by an elegant pinpoint mousse. Long and penetrating, this is a beautifully balanced Champagne from this promising emerging talent” –Robert Parker, 95 points
Pairing: This versatile champagne will be a welcome addition to many palates and occasions. Open for birthdays and celebrations or yourself when you need a smile or a reason to cheer. On the table, this wine will be at home alongside the classics like caviar or fresh seafood and next to more savory options (we’re sharing a recipe that marries both fresh and savory elements below). The Pinot Noir component in this wine adds an elegant structure and makes an easy pairing with steak tartare, bone marrow on toast, and veal.
Garlicky Crab and Brown Butter Pasta
By Cybelle Tondu
About. Many thanks to our friends at Grand Cru Selections for this introduction to the wines of Adrien Renoir.
“Not since our early discovery of the wines Adrien Dhondt is crafting from his family vines at Dhondt-Grellet in Cuis, had we been so inspired to taste the Champagnes from this rising star in Verzy. Adrien Renoir has positioned himself within the exciting new wave of young vignerons taking over their family’s old vines to produce something entirely new.
With only a few vintages under his belt, Adrien has already managed to coax a tremendous elegance and finesse from his Grand Cru vines, all massale selection, in the Montagne de Reims. He’s not afraid to experiment and at the tender age of 30, he’s just getting started.”
Vincent and Adrien Renoir organically cultivate a mere six hectares of Grand Cru vineyards in the heart of the Montagne de Reims. The house of Champagne Renoir has been growing vines and making wines for four generations. These independent vine growers have always guaranteed quality to their customers.
The vines are in Verzy, one of 17 Grands Crus in the Champagne area. Vincent and Adrien grow their vines with care and passion, from pruning to grape harvesting. They then pick their grapes by hand and press them at the property. The wines then rest in the cellars for several years. A lengthy aging process in the cellars gives their champagnes their specific features.
After working closely with his father for the past few years, Adrien Renoir took over his family’s five-hectare domaine in Verzy (Champagne Vincent Renoir) and began bottling
exclusively under his name in 2019. Working exclusively with estate fruit, he abandoned herbicides in 2015 and attained organic certification in 2020.
Technical Information.
Base vintage + 20% vin de réserve (just the year just before) aged in foudre Elevage sur lies for 24 months
Bottled Spring after harvest
