Adrien Renoir Le Cepage Grand Cru

Tatler Champagne Guide 2024-2025

Grape Makeup:

100% Pinot Noir

Sweetness Level:

Extra Brut

Ageing on Lees:

20 months

Price:

$$

Cellar:

Up to five years

Category:

Culinary

What

A revamped grower estate in a Montagne de Reims Grand Cru, fully under the leadership of the youthful Adrien Renoir since 2016, in which time he has pushed for organic farming, a parcellaire approach and oak fermentation and maturation.

Where

Verzy, Montagne de Reims; 7ha of which 6ha are in Verzy Grand Cru (all domaine bottlings come from 5ha in Verzy), the remainder in Tours-sur-Marne Grand Cru and Berru; all certified organic and farmed biodynamically.

Why

Le Cepage, all made from Grand Cru vineyards, is Renoir’s cuvée focused on the Pinot Noir grape (other cuvées include “Le Terroir,” “Les Terroirs” and “Les Années,” all with different emphases). The vines are 40 years old and come from naturally grassed, gently tilled vineyards on clay calcareous soils, Pinot’s favourite kind of site. The resultant wine is packed with meaty, sensuous Pinot fruit. Be warned, though, despite undergoing full MLF, it has laser sharp acidity, likely exaggerated by the low dosage.

What Else

Because the name change is fairly recent, previous vintages of wine from this estate were labelled under the Vincent Renoir brand, in case you want to track down something more mature from the same sites.

Tasting Notes

A clearly natural-leaning style, this has ginger biscuit, crystallised ginger and hibiscus on the nose, its gently metallic citrus fruit giving a sweaty edge. The mousse is vigorous, revealing sarsaparilla and sauvage, meaty tones though gradually delicate peach fruit comes through. A biting acidity and pointed bitterness come through on the back, for an effect that is decidedly austere.

Try It With

A medicinal, herb-rich Korean meal with fermented ingredients

When To Drink

Main course

Perfect For

Your champagne geek tribe

Tatler Tip

This is an acquired taste; do not bring to a family lunch unless you're prepared for sneers from your uncle who only drinks Grands Marques.

TL/DR

Gingery, sauvage and edgy

Supplier

L'Imperatrice