AR Lenoble 'Intense' Extra Brut, Champagne, France NV (V.20)
Maison AR Lenoble was founded in 1920 by Armand-Raphaël Graser in the village of Damery in the Vallée de la Marne, and has remained family-owned and independent ever since. The house is currently led by siblings Anne and Antoine Malassagne — great-grandchildren of the founder — who have steadily elevated both the farming and the winemaking since taking over, earning HVE (High Environmental Value) Level 3 certification and reducing yields below the Champagne average. AR Lenoble is distinguished by its treatment of reserve wines: rather than storing them solely in stainless steel or large tank, the house ages a significant portion in cork-sealed magnums — a method that preserves freshness while allowing slow, oxidation-free development. The 'Intense' cuvée is built around this practice, with the Vendange number (V.20) denoting the majority base harvest year. It is the house's signature multi-terroir, multi-cépage NV: a Meunier-dominant blend from Damery in the Vallée de la Marne, Bisseui Premier Cru, and Chouilly Grand Cru on the Côte des Blancs.
- Winemaker: Anne Malassagne and Antoine Malassagne
- Farming: HVE (High Environmental Value) Level 3 certified. Yields below the Champagne appellation average; estate and sourced fruit from Côte des Blancs, Grande Vallée de la Marne, and Vallée de la Marne.
- Variety: Meunier 55%, Chardonnay 30%, Pinot Noir 15%
- Terroir: Champagne AOC, France. A three-terroir, three-variety blend drawing from the house's three principal zones: Damery in the Vallée de la Marne (Meunier, providing suppleness and fruit); Bisseuil Premier Cru (Pinot Noir, adding structure and depth); and Chouilly Grand Cru on the Côte des Blancs (Chardonnay, bringing tension and mineral finesse).
- Vinification: Blend of 49% base harvest wines (2020) and 51% reserve wines drawn from a perpetual reserve established in 2000. Reserve wines aged in a combination of stainless steel vats, French oak barrels (10%), and cork-sealed magnums (10%) — the defining technique of the house, preserving freshness while building aromatic complexity.
- Aging: Average maturation of 42 months on lees. Dosage: 3 g/L (Extra Brut).
- Tasting Notes: Pale gold with fine persistent mousse. Delicate spring aromas of white pear, apple, and fresh grape, lifted by acacia blossom and subtle brioche. On the palate: lively citrus — yellow grapefruit and lemon — with a fine, creamy mousse, vibrant acidity, and a long, mineral, chalky finish. Harmonious and precise; freshness and generosity in balance.
- Food Pairings: Gougères, oysters, mackerel rillettes, sea bream ceviche, monkfish with beurre blanc, vitello tonnato, and beef carpaccio with capers and Parmesan.
AR Lenoble 'Intense' Extra Brut, Champagne, France NV (V.20)
Maison AR Lenoble was founded in 1920 by Armand-Raphaël Graser in the village of Damery in the Vallée de la Marne, and has remained family-owned and independent ever since. The house is currently led by siblings Anne and Antoine Malassagne — great-grandchildren of the founder — who have steadily elevated both the farming and the winemaking since taking over, earning HVE (High Environmental Value) Level 3 certification and reducing yields below the Champagne average. AR Lenoble is distinguished by its treatment of reserve wines: rather than storing them solely in stainless steel or large tank, the house ages a significant portion in cork-sealed magnums — a method that preserves freshness while allowing slow, oxidation-free development. The 'Intense' cuvée is built around this practice, with the Vendange number (V.20) denoting the majority base harvest year. It is the house's signature multi-terroir, multi-cépage NV: a Meunier-dominant blend from Damery in the Vallée de la Marne, Bisseui Premier Cru, and Chouilly Grand Cru on the Côte des Blancs.
- Winemaker: Anne Malassagne and Antoine Malassagne
- Farming: HVE (High Environmental Value) Level 3 certified. Yields below the Champagne appellation average; estate and sourced fruit from Côte des Blancs, Grande Vallée de la Marne, and Vallée de la Marne.
- Variety: Meunier 55%, Chardonnay 30%, Pinot Noir 15%
- Terroir: Champagne AOC, France. A three-terroir, three-variety blend drawing from the house's three principal zones: Damery in the Vallée de la Marne (Meunier, providing suppleness and fruit); Bisseuil Premier Cru (Pinot Noir, adding structure and depth); and Chouilly Grand Cru on the Côte des Blancs (Chardonnay, bringing tension and mineral finesse).
- Vinification: Blend of 49% base harvest wines (2020) and 51% reserve wines drawn from a perpetual reserve established in 2000. Reserve wines aged in a combination of stainless steel vats, French oak barrels (10%), and cork-sealed magnums (10%) — the defining technique of the house, preserving freshness while building aromatic complexity.
- Aging: Average maturation of 42 months on lees. Dosage: 3 g/L (Extra Brut).
- Tasting Notes: Pale gold with fine persistent mousse. Delicate spring aromas of white pear, apple, and fresh grape, lifted by acacia blossom and subtle brioche. On the palate: lively citrus — yellow grapefruit and lemon — with a fine, creamy mousse, vibrant acidity, and a long, mineral, chalky finish. Harmonious and precise; freshness and generosity in balance.
- Food Pairings: Gougères, oysters, mackerel rillettes, sea bream ceviche, monkfish with beurre blanc, vitello tonnato, and beef carpaccio with capers and Parmesan.