Champagne Fosse-Grely
Champagne Ruppert-Leroy
Type
Sparkling Wine
Appellation
Champagne
Variety
50% Pinot Noir50% Chardonnay
Fosse-Grely is a sélection massale planting of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at the bottom of the hill in Essoyes. Fosse means ditch, and Grely is an old local word that means gravel. Fosse-Grely is the largest parcel at the domaine, and was the first one planted by Bénédicte's father, Gérard, in the 1980s. In addition to their vineyards, Ruppert-Leroy operates a biodynamically-certified farm where they grow their own vegetables, raise animals, produce their own composts / biodynamic preparations, and host conferences on biodynamics.
Viticulture
Vineyard name
Fosse-Grely - located in the town of Essoyes
Soil type
Clay-Limestone with a majority of red clay
Vine ageEarly 1980s
Vineyard size1.5 hectares
ExpositionSouth / Southwest
Vinification
Vinification with natural yeast from their own grapes, without any fining or filtering. The cold settling occurs naturally with the winter frosts. Alcoholic fermentation and levage on fine lees in 225L barrels and 500L demi-muids for 9 months. Natural malolactic fermentation, Aged on the lees in bottle for 18-20 months. Disgorged à la volée, and bottled without any liqueur de tirage (Brut Nature) or added SO2.
Harvest typeHand Harvested
Fining/FilteringUnfined / Unfiltered