NV Albert Levasseur Rue du Sorbier Brut Nature

WINEMAKER: David Levasseur
REGION: Champagne, FR
VARIETY: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
VITICULTURE: Certified Organic

Produced from the oldest plot of the house, planted in 1973, located in the cru of ‘Les Gautelleries,’ a south facing site north-west of town in Cuchery. This plot produces grapes of extremely high quality, with the Brut Nature consisting of 80% Meunier, 15 % Pinot Noir, and 5 % Chardonnay. A Brut and Demi-Sec are also produced under the same cuvée, with the Brut Nature receiving an additional year on lees before disgorgement. Vinified in stainless and zero dosage. This wine, like last year, balances a rustic nature with a fine bead, green and yellow apple, lemon zest, lots of pastry/tarte-tatin on the nose, the extra time on lees showing a lot this year.

This micro-grower Champagne house was established by David’s grandfather in the 1940’s, producing little more than 30,000 bottles per year. He owns 4 hectares of vineyards, spread over 18 plots around the villages of Cuchery, Fleury-la-Rivière and Châtillon-sur-Marne. After many years of sustainable certification through Terra Vitis and HVE, David began conversion in 2020, reaching full certification in 2022. David strikes a balance between low-intervention and classic Champenoise methods. He ferments and ages in stainless steel and employs malolactic conversion for some of his Cuvée. The wines are fine, layered and energetic, and in our opinion, offer tremendous value in the grower category.