Champagne Duval-Leroy Fleur de Champagne 1er Cru Brut NV
A silky and elegant Champagne, with evocative floral notes of hawthorn and honeysuckle leading to almond and toasty overtones. Lively on the attack, with a beautifully balanced palate through to a long, poised finish.
This cuvée is blended from Premier and Grand Cru grapes. The Chardonnay comes from the Côte des Blancs sites of Vertus, Chouilly and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and the Pinot Noir comes from the Montagne de Reims vineyards is Ambonnay, Bouzy, Trépail, Verzenay, Verzy, and Ludes and from the Vallée de la Marne: Mareuil-sur-Ay, Avenay Val d'Or and Cumières. Duval-Leroy was one of the first Champagne houses to be HVE3 certified. Measures are taken to combat the run-off of rain water, to limit the pollution of both underground and superficial water; grass cover crops are grown and processes to combat soil erosion are employed. Biodiversity is positively encouraged, sustainable fertilisers are used and sexual confusion of predators takes place instead of insecticides. The plots and weather conditions encountered are carefully monitored, with soil testing and cartographic, computerised traceability of products used.
The first Champagne to be certified Premier Cru, this cuvée is composed of Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Nor (30%); the blend has remained unchanged since it was created by Raymond Duval-Leroy back in 1911. The grapes were hand-harvested and fermented with selected yeasts at temperatures of 18°C in stainless steel tanks. The still wine underwent malolactic conversion resulting in a softer mouthfeel and the still wine did not have any lees contact, maintaining the purity of fruit. Dosage 9.5g/l.
| RRP | £70.00 |
| Vintage | NV |
| Alcoholic strength | 12% |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Grapes | Chardonnay 70%, Pinot Noir 30% |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Mushroom cork |
Champagne Duval-Leroy was founded in 1859, with the alliance of the Duval and Leroy families and has been passed down for six generations. Today, it is one of the last remaining independent, family-owned Champagne Houses. In 1991, Carol Duval-Leroy took over and today successfully leads the house, together with her three sons, Julien, Charles and Louis. Carol Duval-Leroy is the first and only woman to date to be appointed president of the Association Viticole Champenoise. Certified HVE3, the family is firmly committed to sustainable development in the vineyards and in the cellars under the watchful eye of chef du cave, Sandrine Logette-Jardin. Based in Vertus, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, they create distinctive Champagnes of finesse and elegance, while capturing the essence of the terroir of their 200 hectare estate, which comprises 40% of Premier and Grand Cru villages in the Côte des Blancs and in the Montagne des Reims.
