1. Champagne Leclerc Briant, Abyss
Region: Champagne, France
Vintage: 2012
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir (33%), Pinot Meunier (33%), Chardonnay (33%)
Approx retail price (UK): £150
Medal in the Organic Masters 2018: Gold
Having just mentioned that English sparkling wine can rival Champagne for quality, it was fitting that another wonderful find from this year’s Organic Masters should be a fizz from the famous French region.
Not only that, but a sample from the biodynamic Leclerc Briant, a long-standing brand resurrected in 2012 by American investors, and curated by respected sparkling winemaker Hervé Jestin.
Although this producer’s range of Champagnes are excellent, it was the new cuvée Abyss that gain a top score, a blend that has – in an unusual move – been aged at the bottom of the sea.
This bone-dry fizz comes in a bottle complete with bits of the sea-bed still attached in a clever move to both prove its authenticity and create a totally unique appearance among sparkling wines.
An unconventional, delicious, and pricy way to surprise and excite the ethical drinks lover.
