David Léclapart
Trépail, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
Winemaker: David Léclapart
“Leclapart’s wines are of extremely high quality, but they are also uncompromisingly individual.” Peter Liem, Champagne Guide
David Léclapart
The Montagne de Reims is a diverse wine growing region of Champagne and although it is often thought of as the source of some of the regions finest pinot noir, true in many cases, the area is also the source of some splendid Chardonnay.
As the hill of Reims ‘the Montage de Reims’ moves from having northerly exposer around the villages of Verzenay and Verzy to the south-easterly slopes of Trépail the preference and importance of Chardonnay begins to climb. The Montagne then turns more southerly towards the famous villages of Ambonnay and Bouzy and again pinot noir gains stature.
It’s on these south-easterly slopes of Trépail, the same exposure as the Côte des Blancs, that David Léclapart tends his vines. His family has been growing grapes for four generations, but it wasn’t until David managed to convince his parents that he was ready to take over control that he started his own label in 1998. From the outset David was certain that biodynamics was the only approach he would take. He farms 22 parcels across the village Trépail and since 2000 they have all been farmed with this approach.
Léclapart’s wines are always from a single vintage, as he doesn’t use any reserve wine. The vintage is stated on the back label in code expressed as L.Vxx, where xx represents the last two digits of the vintage (e.g. L.V05 for the releases from 2005). This is due to him not aging his wine long enough to qualify for the vintage designation under the strict AOP regulations.
The Montagne de Reims is a diverse wine growing region of Champagne and although it is often thought of as the source of some of the regions finest pinot noir, true in many cases, the area is also the source of some splendid Chardonnay.
As the hill of Reims ‘the Montage de Reims’ moves from having northerly exposer around the villages of Verzenay and Verzy to the south-easterly slopes of Trépail the preference and importance of Chardonnay begins to climb. The Montagne then turns more southerly towards the famous villages of Ambonnay and Bouzy and again pinot noir gains stature.
It’s on these south-easterly slopes of Trépail, the same exposure as the Côte des Blancs, that David Léclapart tends his vines. His family has been growing grapes for four generations, but it wasn’t until David managed to convince his parents that he was ready to take over control that he started his own label in 1998. From the outset David was certain that biodynamics was the only approach he would take. He farms 22 parcels across the village Trépail and since 2000 they have all been farmed with this approach.
Léclapart’s wines are always from a single vintage, as he doesn’t use any reserve wine. The vintage is stated on the back label in code expressed as L.Vxx, where xx represents the last two digits of the vintage (e.g. L.V05 for the releases from 2005). This is due to him not aging his wine long enough to qualify for the vintage designation under the strict AOP regulations.
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L’Amateur Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
This cuvee is the introduction to David’s range of wines, 100% Chardonnay blended from 5 different parcels across the village of Trépail, this is vinified in enameled vat with zero dosage.
“Undeniably delicious and expressive chardonnay fruits with ripe lemon, peach, mango and nectarine aromas and flavors. Some gentle savory edges arrive on the palate. Vibrant and expressive.”
<< JamesSuckling.com >> << 94 Points >>
L’Artiste Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
Is made from 100% Chardonnay from 3 biodynamically farmed plots, vines 30 – 50 years old, around the village of Trépail. Half of it is fermented in enameled tanks and the other half is in old barrels.
“This has fragrant minerally edges and is a striking cuvée with flinty crushed rocks, lemon biscuit and spiced hazelnut aromas. The palate has a sheer and smooth texture in addition to attractive peach-pastry flavors. A dry, citrusy finish. Acidity is striking.”
<< JamesSuckling.com >> << 94 Points >>
L’Apôtre Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
Léclapart’s top cuvée, L’Apôtre, is a single-vineyard champagne from the lieu-dit of La Pierre St-Martin. The vineyard was planted by David’s Grandfather in 1946 and the wine is vinified entirely in secondhand barrique from Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy. The wine show old vine concentration, is super complex with tonnes of finesse.
“Wild and full of character, with chalky lemon and biscuity savoriness. The composure is beautiful. Super dry, gently spicy and succulent. An entrancing and alluring Champagne.”
<< JamesSuckling.com >> << 94 Points >>
L’Astre Extra Brut Blanc de Noir
The fruit for this wine has previously gone into a rosé called L’Alchimiste. Léclapart decided, in 2011, to make a Blanc de Noir style instead, as the fruit was not prefect for maceration. It is likely that in the future the rosé will once again return in certain vintages, but for now he is thrilled with the result. The fruit is from old vines, planted in the 50’s and 60’s and entirely vinified in secondhand barriques.
“Crushed roses and oyster shell, with gently spicy strawberries and wild cherries. The palate has a supple and fleshy texture that winds out to a powerful, dry and intense, minerally focus on the finish.”
<< JamesSuckling.com >> << 95 Points >>
This cuvee is the introduction to David’s range of wines, 100% Chardonnay blended from 5 different parcels across the village of Trépail, this is vinified in enameled vat with zero dosage.
“Undeniably delicious and expressive chardonnay fruits with ripe lemon, peach, mango and nectarine aromas and flavors. Some gentle savory edges arrive on the palate. Vibrant and expressive.”
<< JamesSuckling.com >> << 94 Points >>
L’Artiste Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
Is made from 100% Chardonnay from 3 biodynamically farmed plots, vines 30 – 50 years old, around the village of Trépail. Half of it is fermented in enameled tanks and the other half is in old barrels.
“This has fragrant minerally edges and is a striking cuvée with flinty crushed rocks, lemon biscuit and spiced hazelnut aromas. The palate has a sheer and smooth texture in addition to attractive peach-pastry flavors. A dry, citrusy finish. Acidity is striking.”
<< JamesSuckling.com >> << 94 Points >>
L’Apôtre Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
Léclapart’s top cuvée, L’Apôtre, is a single-vineyard champagne from the lieu-dit of La Pierre St-Martin. The vineyard was planted by David’s Grandfather in 1946 and the wine is vinified entirely in secondhand barrique from Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy. The wine show old vine concentration, is super complex with tonnes of finesse.
“Wild and full of character, with chalky lemon and biscuity savoriness. The composure is beautiful. Super dry, gently spicy and succulent. An entrancing and alluring Champagne.”
<< JamesSuckling.com >> << 94 Points >>
L’Astre Extra Brut Blanc de Noir
The fruit for this wine has previously gone into a rosé called L’Alchimiste. Léclapart decided, in 2011, to make a Blanc de Noir style instead, as the fruit was not prefect for maceration. It is likely that in the future the rosé will once again return in certain vintages, but for now he is thrilled with the result. The fruit is from old vines, planted in the 50’s and 60’s and entirely vinified in secondhand barriques.
“Crushed roses and oyster shell, with gently spicy strawberries and wild cherries. The palate has a supple and fleshy texture that winds out to a powerful, dry and intense, minerally focus on the finish.”
<< JamesSuckling.com >> << 95 Points >>
