Maison Lenique Grand Cru 2005 Tasting Notes

Champagne Grand Cru 2000 

The Appellation system in the Champagne region is different from other areas of France.  Here it is not individual plots of land that are classified, it is the village that is designated Premier Cru or Grand Cru.  Of the hundreds of villages here only 17 are Grand Cru and Mesnil-sur-Oger, where our exclusive Grand Cru grapes are grown, is one of them.  Our winemaker, Bertrand Robinet, was born here and comes from a long line of viticulteurs, so he knows a bit about Grand Cru champagne, and it is his experienced hands that carefully cultivate the vines and make your wine.

Our exclusive Grand Cru champagne this year is from the 2000 vintage - a magic number and a good vintage to boot.  There are many things which determine a good vintage - in scientific terms it is the ripeness of the grapes and how this relates to both acidity and pH - however, the care taken by the winemaker both in the vineyard and the winery are factors that do not readily transfer to a chart - you need to taste the finished product. 

Our champagne has now spent over four years maturing on its lees in the calm of Bertrand’s cellar.  The grapes were almost as ripe as last year and with higher acidity and lower pH the Chardonnay grapes reveal all their fresh fruit flavours.  Add some toasty notes from the lees’ ageing and with fine, persistent bubbles showing it all off to perfection, we think that you will enjoy the final result. 

We were delighted that for the second year in a row our champagne was awarded a Seal of Approval at the International Wine Challenge in 2004.  Despite the fact that it is an exclusive wine made in very small quantities, it was still one of the least expensive champagnes to receive a Seal.