Lallier


“My top score was 17.5/20…which went to three growers’ wines.”
– Jancis Robinson writing about a recent blind tasting of 64 Champagnes. Lallier Brut Grande Reserve was rated number one of the aforementioned three. (January 6, 2010)

Winery

The Lallier Family has been in Aÿ for over five generations. In 1996, James Lallier bought the winery of René Brun and started his own brand, thus Champagne René James Lallier was born. A new building was erected over the original late-18th-century cellar. In 2003, Monsieur Lallier retired and Monsieur Francis Tribaut took the reins at the estate, located at “4 place de la Libération,” in the heart of Aÿ. This medium-size house now produces around 350,000 bottles, allowing them to focus on making distinctive wines of character.

Lallier’s vineyards cover 12 hectares (30 acres) on as many as 43 plots. They have four hectares (10 acres) in the Marne Valley and eight hectares (20 acres) classified as “Grand Cru,” of which five (12.5 acres) are found in the prestigious Aÿ and three (7.5 acres) in the Côte des Blancs. The state-of-the-art winery holds 1,800 HL in stainless-steel tanks and 600 HL in traditional vats. Wines are bottled after blending in spring and then have time – at least 36 months for all the Grand Cru cuvées – to rest in their cellars where they reach ideal maturity before being consumed. Only Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are used for the whole of the Lallier range. Our house style centers around bottling with cork and clamp during the second fermentation, as was customary in the old days. The René-James Lallier vault holds over 750,000 bottles stored in pallet crates, and their cuvees requiring ageing are stored in their 18th-century chalk cellars.

Visit the winery at www.champagne-lallier.fr

Wine Enthusiast Ratings Sell Sheet

Check out this great powerpoint presentation for more info on Champagne Lallier.

Recent Press and Awards

Brand Sell Sheet

Wines

Grand Reserve Grand Cru Brut NV


Made from 100% Grand Cru grapes, of which 65% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Verzenay and 35% Chardonnay from Avize and Cramant, the Brut is an intoxicating blend of 70% of the most recent vintage with 30% reserve wine, matured 24 to 36 months in our cellars. With 9 g/L dosage and 3 to 5 months rest between disgorgement and shipping, the Lallier Brut features a fine golden-yellow color and delicate buttery brioche aromas with hints of apricot and crusty bread. With its creamy mouthfeel, incredible balance, and remarkable minerality, this Brut represents a truly remarkable value.
Disgorgement: May 19, 2010

“ Quite a deep straw. Smells a bit wild-flower-like, sort of biodynamic! Fleury? Tight knit with lots going on. Interesting even if there is a bit of bruised apple on the finish. Quite long and certainly interesting. A bit chewy, but very attractive.”
17.5/20 points, Jancis Robinson, 1/2010

With a fine sense of maturity, this is rich, toasty, full-bodied and concentrated. It is a Champagne with weight, showing pink grapefruit, melon and green plum flavors inside an intense texture. At the end, acidity combines with a fine toasty flourish. – R.V.
92 points, Wine Enthusiast, Editors Pick, 12/2010 issue

65% pinot noir from Ay and Verzenay, with 35% chardonnay from Avize andCramant): Vivid yellow-gold. A wild, complex bouquet displays scentsof dried pear, orange, white flowers and chamomile, with smoky mineral and leesnotes. Rich and deep but energeticin the mouth, offering powerful orchard fruit and bitter citrus flavors andgood mineral spine. Finishes broadand smooth, with lingering pear and honey notes.
90 points, International Wine Cellar, 12/2010

An expressive nose of lemon, green apple and soft baked bread nuances leads to a very rich and full-flavored mid-palate as the relatively high proportion of pinot noir is definitely evident. There is ample mousse and when coupled with the marked pinot character it combines to create a distinctive Champagne of excellent depth if not necessarily great refinement. This could easily be enjoyed now or held for another few years first.
91 points, Burghound, Issue #48

Delicate acidity is finely woven with a minerally base note and flavors of blackberry, blanched almond, pineapple and pastry in this subtle Champagne. Displays lovely texture and a long, mouthwatering finish of ground spice. Drink now through 2017.
91 Points, Wine Spectator, November 2012

label / shelf talker

Rosé Premier Cru Brut NV

80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, the Lallier Rosé is almost all grand cru juice. Grand Cru grapes from the areas of Aÿ, Bouzy and Avize are blended with Premier Cru grapes from Mareuil sur Aÿ to create this delightful, yet intense champagne. A blend of 80% current vintage wine with 20% reserve wine, it sees 10 g/L dosage and is matured for 24 to 36 months in their cellars, after which it will rest five months between disgorgement and shipping. A brilliant yet pale salmon-pink color introduces charming aromas of wild strawberries and baguette. Racy yet balanced, this elegant champagne will delight the senses.
Disgorgement: May 20, 2010

80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay, mostly fromthe Grands Crus Ay, Bouzy and Avize): Light orange-pink. Expansive aromas of raspberry and fresh flowers, with subtle leesinessand a hint of toast. Supple andbroad, offering pliant red fruit flavors and gentle acidity. Attractively open-knit and smooth intexture, with good finishing clarity and lingering floral character.
International Wine Cellar, 12/2010

An exceptionally pretty nose offers up notes of strawberry, pear and raspberry. The supporting effervescence is soft yet voluminous and contributes to the round and seductive mouth feel of the refreshing and utterly delicious flavors. This is really very fine, indeed it possesses the most refinement of any wine in the range. In sum, this is a really lovely rosé and worth a look.
92 points, Burghound, Issue #48

label / shelf talker

Millesime Grand Cru Brut 2005


There’s a candied edge to the flavors of black currant, lemon zest and almond, well-balanced by firm and integrated acidity. A lively version overall, with a minerally base note that pushes through on the finish. Drink now through 2022.
92 Points, Wine Spectator, November 2012

While the style is soft, full of yellow fruit richness, the wine also show an excellent concentrated texture. The fresh fruit is integrated into this more complex style. The aftertaste shows some softness, but the wine can certainly age for several years.
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast, November 2011

label / tech sheet

Zero Dosage Grand Cru NV

Made from 100% Grand Cru grapes, of which 70% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Verzenay and 30% Chardonnay from Avize and Cramant. A blend of 60% current vintage and 40% reserve wine, this exceptional bottling features a traditional cork and staple and is matured 48 months in our cellars before resting four to five months between disgorgement and shipping. The “Zéro Dosage” refers to the estate’s stylistic choice to add absolutely no sugar for the secondary fermentation, making this champagne bone-dry and mineral, perfect as an aperitif. Golden yellow with amber hints, fresh citrus aromas lead to fresh butter and brioche, a generous mouthfeel, intense minerality and a clean finsh.
Disgorgement: February 23, 2010

Very dry, packed with grapefruit juice flavors. At the same time, this is a tense, serious wine, with a great mineral presence, touch of toast and the potential to age in bottle. It is best with food. – R.V.
90 points, Wine Enthusiast, 12/2010 issue

70% pinot noir from Ayand 30% chardonnay from Avize and Cramant): Pale gold. Fresh orange and pear aromas are complicated by notes of toasty lees,floral honey and chalky minerals. Racy and focused on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offeringvivid citrus and orchard fruit flavors that are underscored by chalkyminerality. Dry and nervy on thefinish, which strongly repeats the citrus and mineral notes. This would be excellent withoysters.
90 points, International Wine Cellar, 12/2010 ‘

The expressive and cool nose plays right on the edge of a gentle reduction yet there are citrus and floral aromas in evidence as well. The delicious, intense and moderately austere flavors possess excellent detail and vibrancy and the finish is also moderately austere. As the label suggests, this is an extremely dry Champagne and sufficiently severe that I would recommend this only to those who already know that they like low and/or zero dosage examples.
92 points, Burghound, Issue #41

label / shelf talker

Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut NV

Fine golden color with hints of green; Firm nose with lots of elegance and finesse with citrus fruit aromas. Ample generous mouth.
Disgorgement: January 20, 2010

This bubbly evokes elements of grapefruit, toast and mineral set against a lean frame. It’s all nicely pulled together, in a drier style, so try with food. Drink now through 2010. 15,000 cases made. –BS
90 points, Wine Spectator

Beautifully perfumed Champagne, creamy and mineral at the same time. It has the freshest green apple character to go with a delicious rich, full flavor, grapefruit juice and a tight texture. – R.V.
90 points, Wine Enthusiast, 12/2010 issue

This is reserved aromatically to the point of being shy but aggressive stirring reveals notes of Meyer lemon and white flowers plus an herbal hint that precedes delicious, intense and quite vibrant flavors that initially display a mildly bitter citrus-suffused finish yet this quickly passes. This is still quite primary and I would be inclined to cellar this for a few years first to round out the finish a bit and allow the complexity to better develop.
91 points, Burghound, Issue #41

label / shelf talker