Champagne Ruppert-Leroy, ‘11, 12, 13…’ Brut Nature (NV)
Regular price $129.99
Unit price per
Champagne, France— ‘11, 12, 13...' is the only NV cuvée from Ruppert-Leroy. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. This cuvée comes from a perpetual reserve that includes wine from every parcel of the domaine dating back to 2011, plus organically-grown grapes purchased from friends in the Aube. The dominant terroir is clay-limestone, with a various proportion of red clay, gray clay, and white limestone. In addition to their vineyards, Ruppert-Leroy operates a biodynamically-certified farm where they grow their own vegetables, raise animals, produce their own composts / biodynamic preparations, and host conferences on biodynamics.
The aptly named “11,12,13” is a deeply terroir-driven and brightly sensuous natural Champagne is the only one of this natural and biodynamic maison that is a blend of all of their parcels rather than hailing from a single “Lieux-Dit”, as well as being an assemblage of all vintages from 2011 to 2015. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it ferments with its native yeasts then sees an elevage of 18-20 months in large barrels and barriques. Shimmeringly mineral, fresh and imbued with joyous depth: pink grapefruit rind, cinnamon stick, lemongrass and wild yellow plums. Like all the wines from this precious biodynamic maison, this Champagne is a brut nature (no dosage added to initiate the second fermentation) and has no added SO2 from the 2013 vintage.