Legrand-Latour - YPRESIAN 2021

L'Yprésien is the third part of the Legrand-Latour geological trilogy, a champagne that this time dates back to the Ypresian geological stage, from 56 to 48 million years ago. This period, characterized by alternating marine and lacustrine sedimentation, shaped the terroirs of Vandières and Verneuil, two communes in the Marne Valley that possess remarkable mineralogical and paleontological richness. It is precisely in this eternal alternation between salt water and fresh water that the complexity and finesse of these terroirs are born.

This 2021 Brut Nature blend combines 60% Meunier and 40% Pinot Noir, two grape varieties that thrive magnificently on this very fine sandy marl and clay. Twelve months in barrels on lees, bottled with grape must in September 2022, with no added sugar and no additional sulfur. The back label elegantly illustrates the fossils and minerals that bear witness to this eventful geological past: shells, crocodilian teeth, ammonites, and other vestiges of those distant periods when Champagne was a geological crossroads.

On the palate, L'Yprésien reveals a beautiful roundness characteristic of Meunier combined with the more austere structure of Pinot Noir. The deep golden color with amber reflections speaks of harmonious development. The aromas unfold around ripe white fruits, brioche notes brought by aging, a distinct chalky minerality, and subtle earthy nuances. The Brut Nature, with no dosage, allows a natural expression of the terroir, where every geological layer of this small part of the Marne Valley fully expresses itself. It is a champagne to be savored with patience, which benefits from being opened a few hours to progressively reveal its historical complexity.