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:

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Address:


28 Rue de Saint-Chamand, 51530 Chouilly

Telephone:


03 26 56 30 97

Website:


Email:




Recent Tasting Notes from Pierre Legras

Pierre Legras Brut Blanc de Blancs

Tasted:February 3, 2015

Score: 78

Crisp, clean, lean. Good structure.

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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 …

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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 …

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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.

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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 …

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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

Rich succulent. Sweet yet surprisingly restrained.

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Pierre Legras Brut Blanc de Blancs

Tasted:September 19, 2014

Score: 78-79

Half bottle. Lovely mouthfeel. Great texture. Fantastic length.

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Base Vintage: 2009

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 …

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Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000

Pierre Legras Cuvee Special Extra Dry

Tasted:June 28, 2014

Score: 89

Perfect!

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Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000

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.

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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/ …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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.

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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 …

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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.

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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 …

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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 …

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Base Vintage: 1998/1999/2000