Blanc de Noirs [Extra Brut]

Score

93

"Leroy's signature Pinot Noir of the eastern Bar-sur-Aubois region shines in the intense, energetic 2019 vintage, bursting as it is with raspberry, baked apricot and maple notes bolstered by a little spicy complexity from its 40% fermentation in oak barrels. There's a real sense of presence and weight here, but accompanied by a little touch of fruit-skin bitters, the vintage's freshening length, and what Leroy believes to be some of the minerality from the Portlandian soils of the area, it's far from heavy. Fine, gastronomic Pinot."

Score

92

"Bright yellow straw-colored, the 2019 Champagne Blanc De Noirs Brut Nature is a bit more shy on opening but has a lovely bouquet with pure notes of raspberries, cranberries, orange pith, and green almond. Medium-bodied and focused, it has a pithy texture and a saline note on the finish that seems to define these wines. This is a lovely wine I'd like to revisit."