Champagne Elodie 1er Cru 'Belle Ame' Champagne 2011
The Wine
From a single plot 'Le Village'
Fermentation and aging in oak barrels for 19 months
Dosage 3gl
971 bottles produced.
This cuvee is racked/aged under cork - an ancient method that adds complexity.
Aging: 9 to 10 years on lees after drawing in April 2013.
This racking under cork is a setting of foam made after bottling with a cork stopper. This old technique was replaced in the 1950s by the use of a bidule (receptacle for depositing) and a capsule (to guarantee watertightness). After several years of testing, we found that this method brings advantages to aging in the cellar, beyond 4 years: prolonging the micro-oxidation of wines initiated in oak barrels, integrating effervescence more harmoniously and finally ensuring better conservation over time. Elodie
The Finer Details
Variety - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Champagne
Sub Region - Montagne de Reims
Vintage - 2011
Alc - 12%
Extra - Cork
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Élodie Desbordes-Spreux was born into Champagne and at age 20, took over the family business from her mother, Marie-Christine Desbordes. The family history dates to the end of the 17th century in Ecueil, a small town on the western side of the Montagne de Reims between Reims and Epernay where they grew and sold grapes. Then in 1844, they made and released their first bottles of Champagne.
Although the business was started by her male relatives, wars took them away and it’s been women running the entire operation for four generations who focused on Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir continues to dominate their 9.14 hectares on 35 different plots, but they grow Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris as well. They are 'High Environmental Value L3*' and Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne** certified.
Additionally, Élodie studied biodynamics and uses many of the principles in her vineyards. Cover crops and vegetative growth between vine rows are kept trim by the periodic addition of sheep and plowing is done by horse. Although she has farmed this way for some time, shes waiting to receive organic certification (2024). Élodie has made her own personal mark on farming methods and the Champagne she produces! Annual production is 30,000 bottles.
Indigenous yeast fermentation, fermentation and aging in oak barrels (the oak source is their family forest in Ecueil), no fining nor filtering. The wine aged 11 years on lees. The dosage is a very low, just above 3 g/l, making this an Extra-Brut versus Brut Nature. Just under 2,000 bottles produced from grapes grown in the ‘Gillis’ plot planted in 1971.