2018 Adrien Renoir Les Montants Extra Brut Champagne

Adrien Renoir is one the brightest new talents to emerge from Champagne in recent years. Working with his father Vincent for several years at their 7 hectare domaine in Verzy, in 2019 the wines were re-launched under his name, and in quick time has caught the attention of educated Champagne drinkers the world over. One of the first changes he insisted on was abandoning herbicides completely, and the estate vineyards are certified organic as of 2020. Oak use too has increased, along with more focus on specific parcels for his lieu-dits bottlings. In the cellar fermentations occur with native yeasts, lees stirring is practiced, and there is no sulphur used at bottling.

While Les Montants is planted to both Pinot Noir (70%) & Chardonnay (30%), the extremely chalky site with shallow soil is best suited to Chardonnay, which is separated out for this bottling. The old selection massale vineyard was planted in 1961. The wine spends 36 months on lees before disgorgement at very low Extra Brut levels around 1g/L.

Other Reviews....
A powerful wine from Adrien Renoir, entirely produced from Chardonnay vines planted in 1962, the 2018 Champagne Les Montants pours a straw hue and delivers lightly wild aromas of tangy lemon candies, fresh yellow apple, and hay. Inviting and rounded on the palate, it takes on more focus and crystalline energy than the nose would suggest, with a pillowy mouse, an elegant mouthfeel, a silky texture, and a ripe feel through the finish. This very distinctive and powerful wine from Adrien Renoir is drinking well now and will continue to drink well over the next 10-15 years.
94 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com