Biodynamic Champagne from the Ay in Grower Family Laurent Benard... HERE!

Slow movement and lasting impressions...

In March of 2024, we are able to attend the Printemps des Champagne Annual mega-tasting event in Reims. During which at the Bulles-Bio event, we met the shy Charles Benard and tasted his wines. They were strikingly different and very alive with penetrating minerality and a verve that was a welcome refreshment from all the wines tasted up to that point. These individually expressed wines had great appeal to our palates and as we learned more about the Domaine and his microbiology background having been asked to take over the family Domaine, you could gain sense that Charles was truly eager to share his wines and the brightness of the future he has now envisioned. Very motivated by purposeful farming transitioning from organic to now biodynamic, Charles cares deeply and intimately about his vines. His vines are an older selection of massal heritage vines.

Sure, Pinot Noir in the Ay makes sense as most of the wines made here show the muscular side of Pinot bubbles, but Charles's wines seemed to be tapped directly into their terroirs, but with more energy, complexity and nuances that made his wines very impressive. To simply put this, Charles's wines are ALIVE and play at the yin and yang of the tasting experience.
Just utterly soulful and refreshing.
**The wines are akin to Georges Lavals' Champagnes.

Today marks the fruition of our initial meeting, discussing his wines and asking to import Laurent's wines. These things take time and are well worth forming these relationships.

The wines... hand-crafted, organic/biodynamic, sans soufre, and truly artisan
Champagne Laurent Benard, Mareuil-sur-Ay

NV Champagne Laurent Benard Premier Cru 'La Cle des Sept Arpents' Extra Brut
45% 2021 base with 55% of perpetual reserve wines going back to 2012. 70% Pinot, 15% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier on clay, limestone, and chalk soils. Fermentation in tank and barrels with native yeasts. 10 months ageing on lees with perpetual reserve added. Bottled Extra Brut with 1.3g/liter dosage and aged 3 years on fine lees before disgorgement.
**(Flagship) and a personal favorite

2019 Champagne Laurent Benard Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut (disg. 10/24)
85% Pinot and 15% Meunier from 40+ year old vines on shallow clay, limestone soils over chalk bedrock. Fermentation in inox tanks with native yeasts. 10 months ageing on lees before bottled Extra Brut with 1g/liter dosage and aged 4 years on fine lees before disgorgement.

2020 Champagne Laurent Benard Premier Cru 'Le Parc' Brut Nature (Meunier)
Only 600 bottles produced
A single parcel wine from 100% Meunier from vines planted in 1987 on shallow clay, limestone soils over chalk bedrock on the lower slope with south-east facing orientation. Fermentation in barrels with native yeasts. 10 months ageing on lees before bottled with no dosage and aged 3 years on fine lees before disgorgement.

Wonderfully crafted and artisan wines with lots of care put into them.
We invite you to try.

Orders which include wines marked PRE-ARRIVAL that are combined with in stock items will be available for shipping/collection once all items have arrived at our warehouse. Minimum purchase per order is 3 bottles.

If you place an order it may be held for more favorable shipping weather. WE WILL NOT SHIP AUTOMATICALLY UNLESS NOTATED ON THE ORDER. If you would like to discuss expedited shipping options just contact us. Orders are automatically insured for $100, you can add additional insurance at checkout.

Automatically receive a discounted ground shipping rate when you order a full case of 12 bottles (mix and match - 750ml only). Shipping promotion not valid for combination with previous orders. Pricing for this offer only and not retroactive.

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-The Bottle List