Aria, Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

Wine Description for Aria Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut by Alexis

Colour & Appearance

Medium straw yellow with lively, persistent mousse – a visually inviting promise of freshness and vitality.

Nose

Remarkably mineral: oyster shell and wet slate dominate the first impression, lending this Blanc de Blancs an almost maritime precision. Beneath unfolds delicate citrus notes – lemon zest, lemon blossom, lemon curd – accompanied by subtle stone fruit. The oak barrel ageing reveals itself subtly in nuances of bread crust, roasted hazelnuts and almonds.

Palate

Taut and focused on the attack, with a saline, cool character and a linear, ultra-precise acidity that recalls the finest Chablis. The mineral character continues on the palate – chalky-powdery, almost textured. Surprisingly: behind the slender façade lies generous extract with an almost meaty bite. The fruit remains cool and citrus-driven: lemons, grapefruits, white nougat. The mousse is present and vital, lending additional grip.

Finish

Citric-creamy with sustained energy, the mineral tension carries far. A Champagne that gains more in depth than it loses in length.

Terroir & Origin

Stems primarily from the single vineyard site Les Longues Raies in Troissy in the Vallée de la Marne – a region known for Meunier, yet offering an extraordinary Chardonnay terroir here. The complex soil mosaic of chalk, limestone, marl, sand and clay with brown loam as topsoil profoundly shapes this wine’s mineral signature.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Chardonnay, biodynamically farmed (Demeter-certified since 2023). Spontaneous fermentation with vineyard-native yeasts, maturation exclusively in wooden barrels (Barriques/Tonneaux). Nearly three years on lees, tirage April 2020, disgorged February 2023, minimal dosage of just 3 g/l – a true Extra Brut that lets its terroir speak unfiltered.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The mineral precision calls for raw oysters, scallop ceviche or sashimi. Also excellent with pan-fried Dover sole, pike-perch with lemon butter or a mature Comté.

Special Characteristics

A grower Champagne that demonstrates the Vallée de la Marne can deliver far more than Meunier-driven cuvées. Alexis Leconte’s biodynamic approach and consistent oak barrel maturation create a Blanc de Blancs of remarkable individuality – mineral, precise, vital.