Champagne Leclerc Briant - Abyss 2018 avec étui
97/100
Bettane & Desseauve
94/100
RVF
94/100
Decanter
"A unique sensory journey with this vintage, which has been aged underwater!"
The 2018 Abyss cuvée from Leclerc Briant offers an exceptional tasting experience, blending earthy, airy, and marine notes. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir, it stands out for its meticulous winemaking and underwater aging, which give it a unique freshness and minerality.
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Eye
A luminous, satiny pale gold color with straw-yellow highlights
Nose
Aromas of ripe, juicy yellow fruit, with hints of sea spray, citrus, and mint
Palate
Rich and velvety, full-bodied, with lively citrus acidity and an intensely briny finish
Serve
At 10-12°C
Drink before
2030+
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy as an aperitif, paired with premium No. 2 oysters, a sea bream ceviche with cilantro and lime, pan-seared scallops with celery purée, sea bass en croûte, and a lemon-basil sorbet...
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated (2026 guide) 97/100
Rated estate (2026 guide) 4*Stars (Producers of the very highest quality, the pride of French viticulture)
About the estate:
This Epernay-based brand, a pioneer of organic viticulture in Champagne and founded by the Leclerc family in 1872, experienced a renaissance under the leadership of Pascal Leclerc Briant in the 1990s and 2000s. The wine merchant was acquired in 2012 by an American couple, Mark Nunnelly and Denise Dupré, who are passionate about champagne and the French art of living. The house has now reached a brilliant maturity, complemented by the spectacular revival of the Hôtel Royal Champagne. All the champagnes, produced using biodynamic viticulture, possess great character and an intense, profound expression. Hervé Jestin, the cellar master, crafts wines that inspire our admiration.
Decanter
Wine rated (2024 guide) 94/100
Rated Winery Recommended
About the wine:
A soft, relaxed profile that reveals lovely notes of candied pear, red apple peel, smoked walnuts, caramel, and baked lemon, with a slightly bitter and briny finish. The effervescence is exceptionally gentle, almost imperceptible, giving the impression of a still wine on the finish. Aged in the bottle at a depth of 60 meters below sea level, off the coast of Brittany, for one year.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2026 guide) 94/100
Rated estate (2026 guide) 2*Stars (These exceptional estates, often boasting fabulous terroirs, are must-haves that, thanks to the consistency and excellence of their wines, deserve a place in the cellars of discerning wine lovers)
About the wine:
We have never tasted an Abyss this vibrant so early in its life. The richness and depth of the 2018 vintage play a major role in this.
About the estate:
Acquired in 2012 by a passionate American couple, this small winery has risen from the ashes thanks to wines with remarkable character. The vineyards are cultivated using biodynamic methods, and the winery sources its wines from organic or biodynamic growers. The majority of its wines come from exceptional terroirs (Mailly, Le Mesnil, Cumières...). Hervé Jestin has been working with the house for several years, bringing his well-known talent to the table. The Abyss cuvées—champagnes submerged at the bottom of the sea for 12 months off the coast of the island of Ouessant—possess a distinct identity, as do the single-vineyard wines Château d'Avize and Les Mont Ferrés. Partial aging in wood, low dosage, tension, and vinous character are the hallmarks of this fine house.
Wine Spectator
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Wine Spectator)
Jancis Robinson
Rated: Recommended
James Suckling
Rated: Recommended
Jeb Dunnuck
Rated: Recommended
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