Legrand-Latour Yprésien 2021 Brut Nature Champagne

Legrand-Latour is the project of Thibault Legrand, a grower based in Œuilly, in the Vallée de la Marne, working with small vineyard plots through a philosophy focused on terroir, geology and minimal intervention. His Champagnes aim to express the character of each soil and vineyard site with precision, using spontaneous fermentation, oak ageing and low or zero dosage to preserve the wines' natural identity.

Yprésien 2021 is a Brut Nature Champagne made from 60% Meunier and 40% Pinot Noir, sourced from Vandières and Verneuil in the Vallée de la Marne. Its name refers to the Ypresian geological period, approximately 48–56 million years ago, whose deposits of marl, clay, fine sand and sandstone give the wine a distinctive mineral identity.

The wine follows Thibault Legrand's minimal-intervention approach, with fermentation using indigenous yeasts and around 12 months ageing in oak barrels on the lees, followed by extended bottle ageing. Tirage was carried out using grape must rather than added sugar in September 2022, and disgorged in March 2026. The wine is released as a Brut Nature, with 0 g/l dosage. 7,079 bottles made.

The wine shows ripe white fruit, brioche, dried flowers and pronounced chalky minerality, with subtle earthy and saline nuances. Meunier brings breadth and roundness, while Pinot Noir provides structure, resulting in a vinous, taut and highly gastronomic Champagne, particularly suited to oysters, seafood, fish, Japanese cuisine and dishes where salinity plays a central role