Adrien Renoir 'Les Montants' Verzy Grand Cru Chardonnay, Champagne 2020

Adrien Renoir 'Les Montants' Verzy Grand Cru Chardonnay, Champagne 2020

Adrien Renoir “Les Montants” Verzy Grand Cru Chardonnay 2020 is a single-parcel, single-vintage Blanc de Blancs from old-vine Chardonnay in Verzy (Montagne de Reims), made in a very pure, low-dosage, oak-aged grower style. It is intense, structured, and distinctly vinous, with fine perlage, vibrant acidity, and a clear sense of place.

Vineyard and winemaking

• 100% Chardonnay from the Les Montants parcel in Verzy Grand Cru, planted in 1961 on chalky soils.

• 100% 2020 harvest, vinified and aged 100% in barrel with natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts and complete malolactic fermentation.

• Aged on lees for around 24 months, with very low dosage (Extra Brut, effectively Brut Nature) and no cold stabilization, fining, or filtration.

• Organic/biodynamic farming in conversion, with minimal intervention in the cellar.

Tasting note

Appearance: Pale gold to light straw with a fine, persistent mousse.

Nose: Citrus peel, orchard fruit, delicate floral notes, and subtle brioche and spice from oak.

Palate: Medium-bodied and precise, with vibrant acidity, fine bubbles, and a clear mineral undercurrent. The structure is firm but refined, with a creamy texture from oak and lees.

Finish: Long, savory, and mouthwatering, with lingering citrus, subtle nutty complexity, and a clean, slightly chalky close.

Style and drinking window

This is a grower Champagne for people who like serious, food-oriented Blanc de Blancs: intense, structured, and clearly terroir-driven rather than simple or aperitif-style. It is approachable now but has the depth to hold for several years in a cool cellar.

Food pairing

It pairs beautifully with shellfish, crab, lobster, oysters, roast chicken, duck, pork, and light game. It also works very well with mushroom dishes, charcuterie, semi-hard cheeses, and refined preparations where its fruit and acidity can balance richness.