Nestled amidst rolling hills and verdant vineyards, Champagne lies just 100 miles east of Paris, yet feels like a world apart. This idyllic region is home to seven grape varieties authorized by the AOC specifications, but it’s the well-known trio—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier—that forms the backbone of most Champagnes, including some of our own exquisite cuvées at Champagne Lallier.
These noble grapes, renowned for their ability to thrive here, and to express the unique terroir of our land, are the very essence of Champagne. Chardonnay brings elegance and finesse, Pinot Noir lends structure and depth, while Meunier contributes roundness and fruitiness. Each grape in the blend plays a vital role in crafting the complex and balanced profiles that define Champagne Lallier.
Every bottle of Champagne Lallier is a testament to the rich heritage of Champagne, a symphony of flavors born from the noble grapes and unique terroir of the region as well as time-honored production methods. It’s an invitation to experience the artistry and passion that goes into every sip, a tribute to the centuries of tradition that have shaped the world’s most prized sparkling wine.
A Look at the Noble Trio
Pinot Noir
This demanding, black-skinned grape requires meticulous monitoring and precise harvest timing, often ripening before its counterparts. Yet, despite its challenges, Pinot Noir’s reign extends across nearly 38% of Champagne’s vineyards.
Pinot Noir contributes a symphony of flavors to Champagne, from delicate notes of strawberry and black cherry, and floral elements such as rose and violet, to subtle earthy undertones that add depth and complexity. It provides body, power and structure.
At Champagne Lallier, we understand the artistry required to bring out the best in this variety. Our mastery of Pinot Noir shines through in cuvées like our Blanc de Noirs.
Lallier Blanc de Noirs exemplifies our dedication to sourcing the finest Pinot Noir grapes mainly from two distinct Grand Cru terroirs:
- Aÿ: The sole Grand Cru village in the Vallée de la Marne, Aÿ is celebrated for producing Pinot Noir with a distinctive softness and depth, thanks to its southern exposure.
- Verzenay: Located in the Montagne de Reims, this Grand Cru terroir yields Pinot Noir with remarkable freshness and tenseness thanks to its northern exposure.
Our Blanc de Noirs exemplifies the mastery of blending Pinot Noir grapes from contrasting yet complementary terroirs. This unique union results in a Champagne that is both expressive and refined, offering a palette of peach and mandarin fruit, spring honey and spice, as well as toasted notes.
But our appreciation for Pinot Noir doesn’t end with our Blanc de Noirs. This variety also plays a crucial role in our Réflexion Collection, Rosé, Millésimé 2014, Ouvrage and Les Sous. Les Sous, our parcellaire Blanc de Noirs, is for example made from a single, coveted Pinot Noir plot found in the hills of Aÿ. Our deep understanding of Pinot Noir’s nuances allows us to create blends that are both harmonious and complex, showcasing the grape’s ability to add depth, structure, and a captivating interplay of flavors.
As Sarah Durand, our global brand ambassador, eloquently puts it, “Pinot Noir is capable of creating wines of unmatched body, delivering wonderful depth and refinement. It produces a complex and emotional tasting experience.”
Chardonnay
Chardonnay, a truly remarkable, white-skinned grape, has conquered vineyards across the globe, earning its title as the world’s most widely planted white variety. In Champagne alone, it accounts for a significant 31% of all vines. This grape’s resilience and adaptability allow it to flourish in diverse conditions.
Its final expression is a delicate interplay of various factors originating from both the terroir and winemaking decisions, including soil composition, oak or stainless-steel aging, the use of malolactic fermentation and other vinification techniques. This malleability allows Chardonnay to reveal a kaleidoscope of flavors, from minerality, crisp citrus and green apple to richer notes of tropical fruit and butter.
At Champagne Lallier, we understand the subtleties of this exceptional grape. Lallier Blanc de Blancs, crafted exclusively from Chardonnay, showcases the vibrant acidity and delicate floral notes that are the hallmarks of this noble variety. The distinct terroirs of our vineyards, including the chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs and Aÿ, impart a unique complexity and elegance to the Lallier Blanc de Blancs cuvée.
Champagne Lallier is known for its singular Blanc de Blancs Champagne, made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, which uniquely combines grapes from two distinct regions.
We source our Chardonnay from two main regions:
- Côte des Blancs: This region is famous for its Chardonnay, with villages like Avize, Cramant, and Oger producing grapes known for elegance and minerality. Our Chardonnay from this region contributes to the finesse and purity of Lallier Blanc de Blancs.
- Aÿ: While typically associated with Pinot Noir, Aÿ’s terroir adds a unique character to Chardonnay grapes grown here, resulting in a deeper body and complex aromas in our Lallier Blanc de Blancs.
By combining Chardonnay from both regions, Lallier creates a balanced Blanc de Blancs with floral notes, pastry aromas and a tense, mineral finish.
Champagne Lallier’s Blanc de Blancs is a prime example of the impact of terroir and the art of blending on Champagne winemaking. Our Loridon expression, meanwhile, takes its name from a plot located atop the hills of Aÿ, in Pinot Noir terroir, yet planted exclusively with Chardonnay vines. Its uncommon location gives this single-plot cuvée power and depth.
“Chardonnay is incredibly versatile and allows for so many different expressions. Depending on where the grapes are sourced from and the decisions made during the winemaking process, Blanc de Blancs Champagne can offer a diversity of tasting profiles. It can therefore stand alone or be paired with a variety of foods,” says Champagne Lallier global brand ambassador Sarah Durand.
Meunier
Meunier’s resilience to colder temperatures makes it a valuable asset in Champagne’s unpredictable climate, and the early ripening of its blue/black grapes aligns with Pinot Noir. Meunier can play a crucial supporting role in the blend, contributing roundness and fruitiness, and with age, spices and aromas of undergrowth, but is also able to stand on its own. Approximately 31% of Champagne’s vineyards are dedicated Meunier, which unlike Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is typical to the Champagne region.
The Vallée de la Marne terroir, with its marl, clay and sand, as well as its unique microclimate, imparts distinct characteristics to Meunier. Lallier skillfully incorporates this grape into some of our blends, adding different layers of flavors and contributing to the complexity.
While not as prominently featured as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Meunier plays a subtle yet significant role for the first time in our non-vintage cuvées Réflexion R.021 Brut and R.021 Brut Rosé. We source our Meunier from carefully selected vineyards in Vallée de la Marne and Montagne de Reims.
In our Réflexion R.021 cuvées, Meunier complements Pinot Noir and Chardonnay by contributing to the overall balance and structure of the wine. It adds a touch of generosity and roundness, enhancing the mouthfeel and creating a harmonious drinking experience.
“Meunier is a beautiful Champagne grape variety. Whether it complements a blend or shines on its own, the final expression will offer you a delightful experience,” says Sarah Durand.
These are the main actors on the Champagne stage, but there are other grapes approved by the AOC that can also be used in making Champagne; Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier that are grown in very small quantities. In fact, these four varieties account for just 1% of all the grapevine plantings in Champagne and are not used by Lallier in any of our cuvées.