Pierre Legras
My love of the wines of Chouilly were first ignited by Champagnes from Legras. Not this Legras. Another. When you first glance at the map of the village you realise it is littered with them! Anyway it got me there so I didn’t ask too many questions.
Pierre Legras is run by Marceline and Vincent. About the nicest couple in the whole of Champagne. I have spent countless days discussing everything in the world of Champagne from production methods to family politics and of course tasting superb wines.
The brand Pierre Legras was born in the late 1990s after a split in the company of R&L Legras. Vincent took a number of vineyards in and around Chouilly (7 Ha) and bottles to form Pierre Legras and has not looked back.
I was instantly seduced by the stunning Cuvee Speciale; a blend of 1998/1999 and 2000 aged in oak and a truly fine example of what makes Chouilly such a wonderful village. Rich, buttery, nutty and just endless on the palate. It is produced in a number of styles; Brut, Extra Brut and Extra Dry. Each better than the last. I have spent the last few years wondering how Vincent can top this, and what’s incredible is that he has done just that.
The improvement in quality of his Brut Blanc des Blancs Grand Cru has been immense. On last tasting with the 2011 base it showed great tension and superb minerality. The mouthfeel and structure has so stepped up it gives you a touch of salinity that you know will give you so much more with some bottle age. I instantly ordered 6 cases!
Their standard Brut is a lovely fresh blend of Chardonnay from Chouilly, and pinot noir from Epernay and Moussy. Notes of plum, white pepper and fleshy peach. The perfect summertime glass.
The Rose is an orange tinged wonder from 2008 with red wine from 2007. A lovely copper note with delicious strawberry and bitter notes to balance it off.
Their vintage wine is always an exciting wine to see, as we step back into the world of blends. Roughly 75% Chardonnay from Chouilly and 25% Pinot Noir from Epernay and Moussy. The wines show good layering on the palate with warm spicy notes. They see a touch of oak (25%) which lifts the mid palate beautifully.
A real rarity and a treat is their Demi Sec. A pure 1995. A lesson in the importance of time. Rich, decadent and moreish.
There will be some exciting single parcel wines coming from this maison in the next few years and also a fascinating Blanc de Noirs from Moussy which showed a surprising level of fruit when tried, a la volee, last year.
I so love spending a few hours with Marceline and Vincent that they are on my hit list every time I go to Champagne!
Village: Chouilly
Region: La Cote des Blancs
Type: NM
Contact: Vincent Legras
Cuvée De Prestige: Cuvee Speciale
Parent Group:
Year Founded:
Hectares:
Bottles produced:
Style:
Terroir:
Vinification:
Viticulture:
- 4.0096981
- 49.0227855
Recent Tasting Notes from Pierre Legras
Pierre Legras Brut Blanc de Blancs
Tasted:February 3, 2015
Score: 78
Pierre Legras Cuvee Speciale Extra Dry
Tasted:November 7, 2014
Score: 82-83
Beautifully creamy. Seductive sweet mid to late palate. A touch too sweet as it stands but still lovely. Touch of bitter oran …
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Millesime Brut 1990
Tasted:November 6, 2014
Score: 90-91
Lovely buttery nose. Very well balanced and brilliant acidity. Deep pee gold with a touch of rose gold. Hobnobs and toast. St …
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Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Brut
Tasted:October 31, 2014
Score: 87
Lovely fleshy nose. Almost notes of Avize. Creamy mouthfeel. Touch of peach and apricot. Sensual. So creamy. Impressive textu …
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Brut Blanc de Blancs
Tasted:October 12, 2014
Score: 81
Half bottle. A nice warmth. A touch of butter with a hint of toast. The fruit palate is covered with a tinge of bitterness on …
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Pierre Legras Millesime 2002
Tasted:October 11, 2014
Score: 85-87
Deep gold. Good power across the mid palate. Quite mature style. Crisp bitter note. Good length. Minerality comes with air. V …
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Pierre Legras Millesime 2006
Tasted:October 11, 2014
Score: 81-85
Sweet biscuit nose. Golden. Touch of salt. Salted almond. Delicate mousse. Celery and heat coming through. Quite mature in co …
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Pierre Legras Millesime 2004
Tasted:October 11, 2014
Score: 82-88
75/25 Chouilly/Epernay. Wines from Epernay are pinot noir. Warm lemon note. Floral white spice, pepper. Layers across the pal …
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Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Brut
Tasted:October 11, 2014
Score: 85
Lovely butter rich palate. Rich oxidative note. Good length. Bottle had been open for a day or so. Toast and lemon.
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Brut Blanc de Blancs
Tasted:October 11, 2014
Score: 81-83
6.75 g/ltr with 09/08/07. Floral, vegetal. Lovely creamy mouthfeel. Great acidity. Great texture and length. Impressive wine …
read more…Base Vintage: 2010
Pierre Legras Moussy 2012
Tasted:October 11, 2014
Score: 75
A touch metallic on the nose. Surprising fruit on the palate. Good length. Acidic and controlled. Ripe, red fruits. An intere …
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Pierre Legras Blanc de Blancs Demi-Sec 1995
Tasted:September 21, 2014
Score: 84-85
Pierre Legras Brut Blanc de Blancs
Tasted:September 19, 2014
Score: 78-79
Pierre Legras Blanc de Blancs Demi-Sec 1995
Tasted:November 12, 2014
Score: 87
Beautiful golden colour. Rich mature nose. Sensational rich. Great palate awesome palate. Well balanced with a fantastic suga …
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Pierre Legras Millesime 2002
Tasted:September 14, 2014
Score: 85-87
Lovely golden hue. Butter, cream and crisp but simple acidity. lovely lemon note. A touch short on the finish. Lovely creamy …
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Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Brut
Tasted:June 30, 2014
Score: 84-85
Wonderful chewy Chouilly nose. Fat, buttery with notes of lychee. Brilliantly smooth palate. Doesn’t quite have the acidity t …
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Extra Dry
Tasted:June 28, 2014
Score: 89
Pierre Legras Millesime a la volee 2008
Tasted:June 28, 2014
Score: 86-93
Disgorged by hand this AM. More Minerality. Green, lime notes. Apple skin. Incredible acidity. Brilliant across the palate.
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Pierre Legras Millesime 2002
Tasted:June 28, 2014
Score: 86-91
75/25 CH/PN More opulence on the nose. Red fruit skin, coming through a lot more at present. Great vintage power. fantasitic …
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Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Brut
Tasted:June 28, 2014
Score: 87-89
Beautiful buttered nose. Seemless on the palate. Great texture. Sublime mouthful. Superb.
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Blanc de Blancs
Tasted:June 28, 2014
Score: 79-80
2010 base. New blend. Sweet nose of butter and Tutti fruity. Great attack and vivacity. 2007-9 reserve, d/g Sept. 2013 6.5 g/ …
read more…Base Vintage: 2010
Pierre Legras Brut
Tasted:June 28, 2014
Score: 76-77
Nice round fruity palate. Spritely red notes on the mid palate. lingers nicely, a touch hot and floral. 2009 base. 40/30/30 C …
read more…Base Vintage: 2009
Pierre Legras Special Cuvee Brut
Tasted:June 25, 2014
Score: 87-91
Picking up beautiful rich, toasty buttery notes. Great length with impressive acidity.Grips the palate attend. Love the devel …
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Extra Brut
Tasted:September 1, 2014
Score: 83-84
Lovely butter. Notes of straw and honey. Lemon. Touch of hob nob. Great length with air. Dry orange rind. Great mousse and ac …
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Brut Blanc de Blancs
Tasted:August 9, 2014
Score: 82
Lovely fruity nose. Great mousse. Violets. Crisp palate. Tutti fruity. Lovely bit of maturity.
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Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Brut
Tasted:August 4, 2014
Score: 85-86
Wonderful rich and creamy. Gosh, what a wonderful wine! Lovely.
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Extra Dry
Tasted:August 4, 2014
Score: 83-84
Plenty of tiny bubbles. Creamy mousse. Crisp zesty mouse with a bright mid-palate and a clean freshness. A little flat across …
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Extra Brut
Tasted:July 18, 2014
Score: 86-87
Lovely sweet toast kicks perfectly on the late palate. Orange not the nose. Fig and hob nob. Great length.
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Brut
Tasted:July 11, 2014
Score: 84-85
Straw gold. Small bubbles. Buttery nose. A delicious example of Chouilly. Layers of melted butter with a crisp aftertaste tha …
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000
Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Extra Dry
Tasted:April 30, 2014
Score: 84-87
Beautiful golden colour. Dark, rich buttered nose. Absolutely sensational nose!!! Leads perfectly into the palate to a surpri …
read more…Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000