AR Lenoble : Dosage Zéro V.19

Tasting characteristics and tips for AR Lenoble Dosage Zéro V.19

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a bright, alluring golden hue, enlivened by a pronounced effervescence of fine bubbles and a delicate mousse.

Nose

The nose reveals a true bouquet of fleshy fruits, evolving from fresh fruit to stewed fruit. Notes of young mirabelle plum, ripe pear and roasted pineapple emerge. With aeration, tertiary nuances appear—lightly toasted almonds and fresh bread—hallmarks of extended aging on lees.

Palate

The attack is precise and tangy, carried by a beautifully sculpted bead. A long, warm, spicy finish follows, lifted by a lemony touch at the end that creates delicate tactile sensations. The structure remains taut, reflecting the balance between the fruit’s natural generosity and preserved acidic tension.

Food and wine pairings

This Champagne pairs perfectly with seafood such as fresh oysters, scallops or shrimp. It also elegantly accompanies grilled fish, a tuna filet cooked à la plancha, or a fish carpaccio. For more substantial pairings, opt for a creamy chicken breast supreme with fine herbs or aged cheeses such as Comté, Beaufort or Parmesan. A butternut squash velouté also offers an interesting contrast with the wine’s freshness.

Serving and cellaring

A Brut Nature that expresses great Champagne terroirs with purity and finesse

The estate

Founded in 1920 by Armand-Raphaël Graser, the AR Lenoble House is based in Damery, in the Marne Valley in Champagne. Remaining family-owned and independent for more than a century, it was taken over in 1993 by Anne Malassagne, joined in 1996 by her brother Antoine. In April 2023, the estate was acquired by Ségolène Frère-Gallienne and her husband Ian Gallienne. Since November 2023, Guillaume Truchot has served as Chief Executive Officer. The estate owns 18 hectares, including 10 hectares of grand cru Chardonnay in Chouilly and 6 hectares of premier cru Pinot Noir in Bisseuil. AR Lenoble was the second Champagne house to obtain Haute Valeur Environnementale Level 3 certification in 2012.

The vineyard

This cuvée comes from a blend of parcels located in three distinct terroirs in Champagne. The grand cru Chardonnay comes from Chouilly, an emblematic terroir of the Côte des Blancs, where chalky soils provide natural richness and a creamy texture. The premier cru Pinot Noir comes from Bisseuil, on the Montagne de Reims, while the Pinot Meunier is grown in Damery, in the heart of the Marne Valley. The vines are farmed with an environmentally respectful approach, including systematic cover cropping, mechanical soil cultivation to encourage deep rooting into the chalk, and a significant reduction in the use of chemical products. Yields are deliberately limited to optimize grape quality.

The blend

Dosage Zéro V.19 is built primarily around the 2019 harvest, which represents 52% of the blend. It is complemented by a remarkably high proportion of reserve wines totaling 48%, bringing complexity and freshness. This strong inclusion of reserve wines perpetuates a signature tradition of the House, anchoring the style in continuity and aromatic complexity.

Vinification and aging

The Dosage Zéro V.19 benefits from an average maturation time on lees of 60 months, considerably longer than usual standards. The wines are partially aged in oak barrels (20%), bringing toasty notes and complex tertiary character. One distinctive feature lies in the reserve-wine preservation system: 10% age in magnums sealed with natural cork for at least four years, under low residual pressure, allowing progressive autolysis and optimal aromatic enrichment. The remaining wines are kept in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, preserving freshness and primary fruit aromas. The complete absence of dosage is a radical commitment to terroir integrity and the authenticity of the wine’s profile.

Grape varieties

Grand cru Chardonnay from Chouilly (20%), premier cru Pinot Noir from Bisseuil (40%), Pinot Meunier from Damery (40%).