Founded in 1912 by the Lhopital family, the Telmont Champagne House benefited from a succession of visionary generations who all shared a passion for the terroirs of Champagne. In 2020, the French group, Remy Cointreau, joined the Telmont adventure and the partners share a common ambition that is to preserve the terroirs by practicing organic methods and consolidating a large-scale sustainable project. It is indeed the house’s innovative approach that led Leonardo DiCaprio to join Telmont as a shareholder. Bertrand Lhopital remains both the Cellar Master and vineyard manager and thus guarantees the quality of centuries’ worth of family know-how.
The vineyard
The grapes stem from the Sous Adrien plot which is located in the Marne Valley, Champagne. This parcel is rather small, only 0.79 hectares, and has an unusual shape. The south-facing plot is long and narrow and basks in the sun throughout the sunnier months, enabling the grapes to reach their full aromatic potential. The soil is composed of rich brown limestone, giving rise to mineral and alluring champagnes.
The vintage
The weather conditions throughout the 2012 vintage marked many winemakers in the Champagne region. The year commenced with a harsh winter with low temperatures (as low as -4°C) and bouts of frost. The growing cycle was delayed, and late frosts occurred throughout April and May. Heavy rainfall hit the Champagne region up until the second half of July and hailstorms in June and July destroyed 4,000 hectares of vines in the Champagne region, fortunately, the Sous Adrien plot was not affected by these conditions. At long last, the weather conditions improved and the month of August saved the vines. The warm days enabled the grapes to ripen beautifully and reach their utmost aromatic potential. The small grapes were harvested on September 19th but they boasted a high concentration and a perfect acidity.
The wine
The Lieux-Dits champagnes are produced from the grapes of a single vineyard. Thus, these champagnes offer a rare expression of a specific plot. In line with the House’s nature-minded beliefs and practices, the vines are managed using sustainable farming practices. This wine provides an authentic expression of the terroir from which it stems and this champagne is truly exceptional.
Vinification and aging
The grapes are harvested whole and are slowly pressed on the same day, to extract all the juice. The grapes showcased an extraordinary balance and ripeness, thus, the teams wanted to carry out winemaking practices that would best capture the terroir’s essence. The vinification was carried out in 5000-liter oak casks. Following fermentation, the wine is then left on the lees, which are stirred once every two weeks to create contact between the yeast and the wine. This Sous Adrien 2012 Champagne spent eight months in the casks. The juices are blended and the wine is aged with cork stoppers. The champagne then undergoes a second fermentation and the bottles are riddled by hand, in the traditional way.
The blend
100% Pinot Meunier.
