Demiere, Lysandre 3-Cepages 2012
History
: The history of Champagne Demière began in 1936, when Fernand Demière purchased his first vines in the village of Fleury-la-Rivière, located in the Marne Valley. From the 1950s onward, his son Jack joined the family business and worked to expand the vineyards, driven by the ambition to complete every stage of production within the Demière Champagne house itself.
Jack further developed the estate by launching a winemaking service business that provided bottling, disgorgement, and filtration services, while continuously acquiring additional vineyard land. In 1966, he fulfilled his vision by acquiring a press center equipped with two traditional Champagne presses.
In 1988, the third generation and current owners, Audrey and Jérôme, took over the vineyards. Under the name “A & J Demière,” derived from the initials of their first names, they have modernized the house while preserving its traditional methods, crafting Champagnes with a strong and distinctive character that reflects their own identity.
Terroir & Wine Making
: The vineyards of Champagne Demière are planted on sandy and limestone-rich soils filled with fossils and seashell remnants, giving the wines unusual iodine and saline nuances rarely found in Champagne. The close proximity of all vineyard sites, combined with a carefully organized production process, allows the house to minimize its carbon footprint while expressing the purity of its terroir through practices that encourage biodiversity and natural soil cycles.
Located in the Marne Valley, the vineyards are shaped by the steep valleys carved by the Marne River. The region experiences an oceanic climate influenced by continental conditions, with particularly cool winters, frequent frost, and persistent fog.
Taking these terroir characteristics into account, Jérôme focuses primarily on Pinot Meunier, his favorite grape variety and one he strongly believes is exceptionally suited for long aging. Another important reason for this choice is that Pinot Meunier buds later than other grape varieties, making it less vulnerable to frost damage and particularly well adapted to healthy viticulture in this region.
Jérôme also prefers to preserve the wine’s natural acidity by avoiding malolactic fermentation. While he acknowledges that malolactic fermentation can soften a wine, he believes it may also accelerate the aging process excessively. Instead, he relies on extended bottle aging to allow the wine’s roundness and harmony to develop naturally over time, aging all Champagnes for a minimum of five years before release.
Champagne Demière is guided by the philosophy of “creating wines that bring happiness to those who drink Demière Champagne,” striving to deliver unforgettable experiences. Over the years, the house has developed unconventional collections that highlight the unique personality of each vintage, offering a broad range of selections tailored to a variety of individual tastes.
About Wine
: The vineyards, located between the Garonne River and the Ciron River, are composed of gravel soils that bring finesse, clay that adds richness, and limestone that contributes minerality. The average vine age is approximately 40 years, while the oldest parcels were planted in 1926, adding remarkable depth and complexity to the wine.
The grapes are harvested entirely by hand following a rigorous selection process based on ripeness, and only organically farmed fruit is used.
During vinification, alcoholic fermentation takes place for 15 days in French oak barrels, 30% of which are new oak. The wine is then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, with one-third new oak, followed by an additional six months of maturation in stainless steel tanks before release.
With an annual production of approximately 18,000 bottles, this wine beautifully expresses the elegance and balance of the Sauternes terroir.
Tasting Note
- Pinot Meunier 34%, Pinot Noir 33%, Chardonnay 33%
- Displaying a straw-yellow color, this wine reveals aromas of candied quince, fig, and mango layered with notes of lemon, butter, toasted bread, honey, and white flowers. On the palate, persistent fine bubbles create a remarkably round and silky texture, while fresh acidity, minerality, and delicate saline nuances lead to a long, creamy finish marked by buttery richness.