Why it matters
The producer
Alain Legret leads Champagne Legret. The house works with Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the three principal grapes in Champagne sparkling wine. Meunier brings fruit, Pinot Noir body, and Chardonnay acidity to the blend. Its named wines are vintage Millésime Brut Nature bottlings.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Champagne Legret is based at 6 rue de Bannay, 51270 Talus Saint Prix, in the Champagne region. The house offers a traditional tour of the cellar, pressing room and fermentation room, followed by an explanation of Champagne making and a tasting. In Champagne, second fermentation in bottle creates the bubbles, while lees ageing can add bread, toast and roundness.
Wines to know
The range in view
Champagne Legret Millésime Brut Nature is the 2000 vintage. Legret Millésime Brut Nature is the 2008 vintage. The two bottles share a sparkling format and the Brut Nature style name, while the harvest year separates the wines. A vintage sparkling wine carries one harvest year on its label, so the year is part of how the bottle is identified.
The 2000 Millésime shows medium gold with developed aromatics. Apple, lemon, almond and toast rise from the glass. The palate combines mature roundness with fresh acidity, and the finish is exceptionally long.