Valentin Leflaive : Verzenay Extra Brut 20 6.0

Characteristics and tasting tips for Verzenay Extra Brut 20 6.0 by Valentin Leflaive

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a magnificent salmon-pink hue.

Nose
The bouquet opens with aromas of small red fruits, notably strawberries and raspberries, evolving towards citrus notes and toasted touches that bring complexity and refinement.

Palate
On the palate, this champagne seduces with its sculpted, lace-like structure of great elegance. It recalls the fruits from the nose with finesse and length, offering a perfect balance between generosity and freshness.

Food and wine pairings

This rosé champagne pairs perfectly with a wild strawberry and rhubarb delight, elevated by crystalline verbena.

Service and aging

Ideally served at a temperature between 8°C and 10°C. This champagne should be consumed by around 2030 to fully appreciate its freshness and fruity expression.

An ample and precise Verzenay Grand Cru rosé champagne

The estate

The Maison de Champagne Valentin Leflaive was born from the meeting of two great French traditions: the Burgundian savoir-faire of the Leflaive family and the prestigious terroir of Champagne. Created in 2015 by Olivier Leflaive, the famous winemaker from Puligny-Montrachet, the house was established with the aim of transposing the excellence and precision of great White wines of Burgundy to the crafting of terroir champagnes. The name Valentin refers to Olivier’s son, born in 2007.

The approach is parcel-based, demanding and resolutely focused on the expression of the Chardonnay grape variety, primarily sourced from the Côte des Blancs (Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, etc.). Each cuvée reflects a unique identity, vinified in small volumes, with meticulous attention to élevages (often partial in barrels), to low dosages and to aromatic purity. Valentin Leflaive thus embodies a pure, elegant style aimed at lovers of wines with character.

The vineyard

The grapes used for this cuvée come exclusively from Grand Cru plots in Verzenay, in the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne. The 55-year-old vines are north-facing and planted on loamy soils over chalk at 160 meters altitude.

The letters define the grape variety and/or the plot of each cuvée, and the numbers indicate the years of the reserve wines used as well as the dosage. Thus this cuvée was made from the Verzenay plots, 2020 is the year of the base Blend and finally 6.0 g is the sugar dosage per liter.

The vineyard

The grapes used for this cuvée come exclusively from Grand Cru plots in Verzenay, in the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne. The 55-year-old vines are north-facing and planted on loamy soils over chalk at 160 meters altitude.

Winemaking and aging

Hand-picked grapes. After a fractional pressing where the press fractions are separated and discarded, fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and oak barrels. This rosé champagne was bottled in March 2021 and underwent 31 months of aging on lees, thus developing its aromatic complexity.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.