Lot presentation

Sonate Extra Brut Fleury 2013

The wine

This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, from the property’s best vineyard parcels, is produced without sulphur by a trailblazer of biodynamic viticulture. The grapes are vinified in tanks (55%) and oak barrels (45%) and the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. Dosage is low (1g/litre). This champagne has an extremely fruity aromatic bouquet with an abundance of ripe fruit, dried fruit, baked apple, stone fruit and citrus notes. Its rich and creamy texture is enhanced by wonderful length and a pleasant touch of bitterness on the finish.

About the Producer Fleury Père & Fils

Maison Fleury is located in southern Champagne, in Aube, more precisely in the Côte des Bar, south of the Seine Valley (less than 50 km from Troyes). It covers 15 hectares, mostly planted with Pinot Noir (85%) but also with Chardonnay (10%), Pinot Blanc (3%) and Pinot Gris (2%). The domain was founded in 1895. Emile, the great-grandfather of the current generation, winemaker and nurseryman, was the first to plant Pinots Noirs grafted in the region after the invasion of phylloxera. His son, Robert, produced his own champagne for the first time from 1929 and was already part of these still rare récoltants manipulants anxious to produce champagne from high quality vines. His son Jean-Pierre took over the domain in 1962. From 1970 he was interested in more ecological farming practices: mechanical weeding and organic fertilisers. Increasingly involved in ""clean"" viticulture, in 1989 he became the first Champagne winemaker to convert his vineyard to biodynamics. Since 2009 it has been Jean-Sebastien, the fourth generation of the Fleury family who has taken over the reins by continuing and refining the cultural practices while making the cellar work more precise, especially by creating exceptional cuvées. As well as his domain, the maison purchases (organic) grapes. Both in the cellar and in the vineyards, the domain works with total respect for the grapes, as naturally as possible and by "" slowly hurrying"", all the champagnes produced which have been aged for considerable time in the cellars before disgorgement. Some cuvées are vinified in wood and some are sulphur-free. In addition, the long history of biodynamics in the domain (over 20 years!) gives the wines a depth and a balance which is rarely reached in the region. It is an unusual and very interesting maison.

Detailed characteristics