Adrien Renoir Le Terroir Extra Brut Champagne

Adrien Renoir is one the brightest new talents to emerge from Champagne in recent years. Working with his father Vincent for several years at their 7 hectare domaine in Verzy, in 2019 the wines were re-launched under his name, and in quick time has caught the attention of educated Champagne drinkers the world over. One of the first changes he insisted on was abandoning herbicides completely, and the estate vineyards are certified organic as of 2020. Oak use too has increased, along with more focus on specific parcels for his lieu-dits bottlings. In the cellar fermentations occur with native yeasts, lees stirring is practiced, and there is no sulphur used at bottling.

Le Terroir is a blend of 50% Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from his village in Verzy, and the soil here is chalk with clay topsoil. Starting with a base vintage, this is supplemented with 20% reserve from the previous year. The wine is fermented in neutral oak with native yeasts, undergoes full malolactic, before spending around 11 months in barrel and 24 months on lees in bottle. Dosage is very low, under 2g/L.

Other Reviews....
Disgorged in April 2021 with 1.6 grams per liter dosage, Renoir's NV Extra-Brut Grand Cru Le Terroir (2018 base) is showing very well, unfurling in the glass with aromas of nashi pear, crisp yellow orchard fruit, clear honey and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered but tightly wound core of fruit that's girdled by bright acids and animated by a pinpoint mousse, it will reward at least a year or two on cork with greater range and plenitude, and it will live for a lot longer. Drink 2021 - 2038.
93+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)

Composed of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with the base wine from 2020, the NV Champagne Assemblage Terroir Extra Brut pours a copper straw hue and comes entirely from the village of Verzy. Lush with ripe fruit, the NV Champagne Assemblage Terroir Extra Brut is all about its pure and rich liqueur, which is hard to resist, offering aromas of Bing cherry, fresh peach, and dewy fresh flowers. Inviting on the palate, it is clean and lifted, with nothing heavy or imposing about it, and is balanced with a pillowy mousse. Drink 2024-2034.
92 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com