Benoît Déhu : Initiation V21

Tasting notes and serving tips for the Initiation V21 cuvée by Benoît Déhu

Tasting

Appearance
The wine reveals a beautiful pale gold hue, enlivened by remarkably fine and persistent bubbles.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with delicate notes of white fruits and citrus, intertwined with floral hints. Subtle mineral nuances and indulgent brioche aromas add further complexity to the whole.

Palate
On the palate, the attack is lively and perfectly balanced. The texture displays a lovely roundness that envelops a vibrant freshness, leading to a long, precise and delicately saline finish.

Food and wine pairings
This wine pairs wonderfully with briny seafood such as oysters or shellfish. It also makes a brilliant match for roast poultry with mild spices, delicate Asian dishes or hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring
The Initiation V21 cuvée is best served at a temperature between 8 and 10°C. With great ageing potential, this wine can be enjoyed until around 2034.

A precise and energetic terroir-driven Champagne crafted by Benoît Déhu

The estate
Founded in 1787 in the Vallée de la Marne, this historic family estate is now run by Benoît Déhu, the eighth generation of winegrowers. Within this Champagne estate, he has developed a vineyard of around 4 hectares, fully certified organic and biodynamic. The house stands out for its highly demanding artisanal philosophy, focused on respect for living ecosystems and minimal-intervention winemaking. Here, Benoît Déhu crafts terroir-driven wines of great precision, enhanced by meticulously controlled wood ageing.

The vineyard
Located in Fossoy, in the Vallée de la Marne in Champagne, the vineyard benefits from an ocean-influenced climate, characterised by mild winters and temperate summers, which favour slow ripening and beautiful aromatic development. The vines flourish on soils typical of the region, composed of clay, sand and chalk, lending strong minerality. The grapes come from two distinct terroirs farmed biodynamically: the historic La Rue des Noyers plot and a lower-slope vineyard from a Burgundian massal selection.

The blend
This non-vintage cuvée is mainly based on the 2021 vintage. It is judiciously complemented by reserve wines from a solera system, bringing a beautiful temporal depth to the whole.

Winemaking and ageing
The grapes for the Initiation V21 cuvée are hand-harvested. In the cellar, the approach is as natural as possible, with fermentations initiated by indigenous yeasts and a block of malolactic fermentation to preserve maximum tension. The wine is vinified and aged in oak barrels, the wood mostly sourced from the family's local forest. After the second fermentation, the bottles age at length on the lees before being disgorged with zero dosage.

Grape varieties
The blend is composed of approximately 77% Pinot Meunier and 23% Pinot Noir.