Champagne A.R. Lenoble
Champagne house in Damery, Vallée de la Marne.
- Village
- Damery
- Region
- Vallée de la Marne
- Founded
- 1920
- Cuvées in the guide
- 8
History: The house was founded in 1920 by Armand-Raphaël Graser, a wine broker from Alsace who fled to Champagne in 1915. He named his house A.R. Lenoble (after his initials and the "nobility" of the wine) to give it a French ring. Until 2023 the house remained entirely family-owned, run by the great-grandchildren Anne and Antoine Malassagne (4th generation). In 2023 the Belgian Frère-Gallienne family (owners of Château Cheval Blanc) took a majority stake via the holding FG Bros.
Vineyards: The company owns 18 hectares of its own vineyards, divided over three locations:
- Chouilly (10 ha): Grand Cru, Côte des Blancs, mainly Chardonnay.
- Bisseuil (6 ha): Premier Cru, Montagne de Reims, mainly Pinot Noir.
- Damery (2.5 ha): Marne Valley, mainly Pinot Meunier.
Winemaking: AR Lenoble is known for its sustainability and as the second house in Champagne received the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification (level 3). The approach is characterised by:
- Use of only the first pressing (cuvée).
- Storing reserve wines in magnum bottles (at least 4-5 years) for better stabilisation.
- Ageing in various vessels (Burgundy barrels, foudres, stainless steel tanks) and in the historic cellars from the 18th century.
- Low dosage sugar in many cuvées, aimed at fruitiness and terroir expression.
Champagnes: The range includes nine cuvées, including:
- Cuvée Brut Intense: The calling card, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with low dosage.
- Cuvée Brut Nature: Completely dry (zero dosage sugar).
- Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Chouilly: 100% Chardonnay from the Grand Cru village of Chouilly.
- Cuvée Gentilhomme Grand Cru Millésime: Prestige cuvée, only in the best years.
- Blanc de Noirs: Mainly Pinot Noir from Bisseuil (Premier Cru).
Cuvées by A.R. Lenoble
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