2010 Bereche et Fils Le Cran 1er Cru

A particularly chalky vineyard planted by the Bérêche brothers’ grandfather on top of Ludes hill at 200 m elevation. Pinot Noir looks east and Chardonnay looks west. Low yield. Intense nose with some evolution. Builds on the finish. Remarkable for its finesse. (JR)

The 2010 Le Cran, a blend of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir brings together the flavor profile of the former and the textural resonance of the latter. Apricot, lemon confit and wild flowers are some of the many notes that flesh out in this creamy, super-expressive Champagne. This is one of the bigger, more dramatic wines in the range, but everything works together nicely. Disgorged December 2017. Dosage is 4 grams per liter.

The Ludes Premier Cru 2010 Le Cran is from a very cool and late-ripening terroir at 190 to 220 meters in altitude. The vines (a 50/50 mix of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) were planted between 1963 and 1967 on a shallow chalky terroir with just 25 centimeters of topsoil, with the Pinot Noir facing east and Chardonnay to the west. Vinified in oak, aged under cork and disgorged in December 2017, the 2010 vintage offers a pure, deep, elegant, pretty charming and chalky bouquet with ripe fruit notes. Pure, fresh and elegant, the palate features a long, iodine expression of chalk and crushed stones. This is a firm, serious, structured and spicy Champagne with generous chalkiness and creamy texture, with a very long, complex finish. If you like the dirty chalkiness of wines from Jerez and the Jura, this Champagne could be your preferred choice. Tasted April 2018. Aug 2018, www.robertparker.com