LECLERC BRIANT

EPERNAY CHAMPAGNE

Leclerc Briant is a trailblazing Champagne house producing wines of singular energy and nerve. Lucien Leclerc founded the winery with four hectares of vineyards in Cumières in 1872. The business moved to Épernay in 1955 when Bertrand Leclerc married Jacqueline Briant and formed the négociant firm which still carries their name. Leclerc Briant was an early adopter of organic practices beginning in the 1960’s and was one of the first to bottle single-vineyard Champagnes starting in the 1970’s. In the late 1980’s, Bertrand and Jacqueline’s son, Pascal, began integrating biodynamic principles and part of the production has been Demeter certified since 2003. Today, enologist Hervé Jestin continues the legacy of this visionary house.

Oenologist Hervé Jestin has overseen production since 2008, taking a distinctly non-interventionist position: “Our vines and our wines have a certain sort of independence,” says Hervé. “We provide guidance and care, but don’t want to force anything.” Hervé is a respected expert in biodynamic farming and is a forefather of bioenergetics, a movement among a small group of vignerons who are working to bring the energy of nature to the finished wine. All fermentation is spontaneous, and the wines are vinified in a combination of INOX tank, terracotta egg or French oak barrel. Malolactic fermentation is allowed to happen naturally and dosage levels are kept low (below 4g/L). All the wines are bottled 100% unfiltered and unfined, using only time and gravity for clarification. The end goal is gastronomic Champagne, wines intended for the table, that brim with energy and speak clearly of their terroir.

CHATEAU BIAC

CADILLAC BORDEAUX

Château Biac’s unique setting overlooking a meander of the Garonne River and the plain of the Graves, has not only been a timeless witness to the region’s history, but also to the geological movements of the area, now embedded in its unique “terroir”.

Although the name “Biac” remains an enigma, the quality of wine coming from the Asseily family is no mystery. It was a great deal of hard work to restore Château Biac’s reputation as one of the finest wineries in the region, so they sought professional advice and support from Patrick Léon, who had been an oenologist at Château Mouton-Rothschild for 20 years. Thorough soil analysis and the planting of the vineyards was adapted accordingly, giving way to wines of distinct character and expression of terroir.

"Château Biac is a pure jewel." - Steven Spurrier (Decanter, August 2015)

CHATEAU LE RAZ

PERIGORD PURPRE

Located in Saint-Méard-de-Gurçon, Dordogne, the Barde family has owned Château le Raz since 1958, but traces of the past show that they have been in the region since the 13th century. The family farms 60 hectares, with vines growing on hillside and higher altitude plateau terroirs.

MAISON FONTAN

COTES DE GASCOGNE

The Fontan family’s story began over a century ago, and is the tale of four generations of Gascons, driven by a passion for their land, vines, wines and Armagnacs. Domaine de Maubet was originally a farm which had been given as a marriage gift to Esilda and Maximen Fontan. Their descendants have continued to practice general farming (maize, cereals livestock farming, wine growing). In 1985, Aline and Jean Claude Fontan decided to make the Domain a property producing exclusively wine. Since 2000 respect of the environment and traceability are the new commitments of the Fontan family.