Producer: Adrien Renoir represents the fourth generation of his family's estate in the Grand Cru village of Verzy, assuming responsibility for the vineyards in 2015 before releasing his first estate wines beginning with the 2019 vintage. Farming approximately seven hectares, Renoir has quickly established himself as one of Champagne's most exciting young grower-producers. Certified organic since 2020 and embracing biodynamic principles, his focus is on expressing individual vineyard sites through minimal intervention and meticulous farming. Every decision, from the vineyard to the cellar, is guided by a commitment to transparency, allowing each parcel to communicate its unique identity.
Vineyard: Les Épinettes is a single Grand Cru parcel located in Verzy on the Montagne de Reims, planted exclusively to Pinot Noir through massal selection in the early 1970s. The vineyard's clay-limestone soils over Campanian chalk provide exceptional drainage while preserving freshness and mineral tension. Verzy has long been regarded as one of Champagne's great Pinot Noir villages, producing wines that combine power with remarkable elegance. By isolating this single parcel, Renoir highlights the subtle nuances of the site, demonstrating how one vineyard can produce a Champagne of extraordinary precision, depth, and sense of place.
Winemaking: Les Épinettes is produced from 100% Pinot Noir and fermented entirely with indigenous yeasts before aging exclusively in neutral French oak barrels. Full malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, and the wine spends approximately 36 months on its lees before disgorgement. Renoir avoids fining, filtration, and unnecessary intervention, allowing the vineyard to remain the focal point of the finished wine. Finished with an Extra Brut dosage of approximately 0.8–1.0 g/L, the result is a Champagne of exceptional purity, structure, and chalk-driven minerality that faithfully reflects both the vintage and the Grand Cru terroir of Verzy.
Technical Details: Champagne Grand Cru AOC; 100% Pinot Noir (Blanc de Noirs); single-vineyard Les Épinettes in Verzy Grand Cru; vines planted in the early 1970s using massal selection; organically farmed with biodynamic practices; indigenous yeast fermentation; 100% neutral oak fermentation and élevage; approximately 36 months sur lie; Extra Brut (0.8–1.0 g/L dosage); unfined and unfiltered.
Food Pairing: Roast chicken, duck breast, veal, pork loin, lobster, seared scallops, tuna, mushroom dishes, Comté, aged Parmesan, and truffle-infused cuisine. The wine's combination of Pinot Noir depth, vibrant acidity, chalky minerality, and exceptionally low dosage makes it equally compelling as a gastronomic Champagne or paired alongside refined seafood, poultry, and richly flavored seasonal dishes.
