Same Quality Level as Selosse (A Big Claim I Know - Read On)
Too Expensive to Sell at Normal Retail... But Not With My Model
David Léclapart.
David Léclapart.
He is likely the best winemaker in Champagne who most people have never heard of. He may be the best winemaker in France who most people have never heard of.
I can't believe I got my hands on 2 cuvees of David Léclapart at these prices.
There are winemakers and there are artists. And then there are winemakers who are artists. David Léclapart is in the last category; he is one of the most talented winemakers in all of France. He is making some of the most incredible wines in Champagne and is a relative unknown in the US. Why? Read on...
When I used to work at Chambers Street Wine as a salesperson, I spent some time at the cash register, and at that time, behind the cash register was the Champagne section. This was back in 2003 when Champagne was not anywhere near as hot as it is today and it was still somewhat of a celebration wine. I always looked and pondered and researched the bottles behind me and the one that confounded me the most was David Léclapart.
Léclapart's has always produced miniscule quantities and his US prices were too high ($50-$65) - so he never got a following in the US. And now that his prices in France are even higher (and his production a ridiculously small 12,00 bottles per year), the wines are normally prohibitively expensive in the US.
So back to 2003. I took some home and it was love at first sniff and then sip. The minerality, the precision, the chalkiness, the depth, the finesse, the whole package. The importer at the time, Joe Dressner, stopped working with them. Then all of a sudden they got crazy expensive and were discovered. That also coincided with David's evolution as a winemaker. He is making some of the most singular and distinct wines in all of Champagne. They are a must try and that is why I am offering them on a Saturday as I have gotten a parcel at quite frankly, ridiculous prices.
The first wine is the 2010 David Léclapart "l'Amateur" for as little as $64.99 a 3-pack. Compare at $90+. This wine is simply perfect. Minerality, precise fruit, acidity, balance. It's a work of art. A great Champagne in the $90-120 price range. Each Léclapart wine is from a single year but the labels don't indicate it as he does not age it the required 3 years vintage champagne must have. It's on the back coded as LV10 for this wine. I cannot emphasize how much of a great deal this is.
Léclapart's has always produced miniscule quantities and his US prices were too high ($50-$65) - so he never got a following in the US. And now that his prices in France are even higher (and his production a ridiculously small 12,00 bottles per year), the wines are normally prohibitively expensive in the US.
So back to 2003. I took some home and it was love at first sniff and then sip. The minerality, the precision, the chalkiness, the depth, the finesse, the whole package. The importer at the time, Joe Dressner, stopped working with them. Then all of a sudden they got crazy expensive and were discovered. That also coincided with David's evolution as a winemaker. He is making some of the most singular and distinct wines in all of Champagne. They are a must try and that is why I am offering them on a Saturday as I have gotten a parcel at quite frankly, ridiculous prices.
The first wine is the 2010 David Léclapart "l'Amateur" for as little as $64.99 a 3-pack. Compare at $90+. This wine is simply perfect. Minerality, precise fruit, acidity, balance. It's a work of art. A great Champagne in the $90-120 price range. Each Léclapart wine is from a single year but the labels don't indicate it as he does not age it the required 3 years vintage champagne must have. It's on the back coded as LV10 for this wine. I cannot emphasize how much of a great deal this is.
Qualititatively, I would compare this with Selosse VO at $230-$350. This is no dosage and no oak while Selosse has a small dosage and some oak. The styles are different, yet both are on the same qualitative level.
I also have the 2007 David Léclapart l'Apotre for as little as $134.99 a 2-pack. Compare at $180-$215. Amazing deal for a stunning wine. Krug-like in its intensity. This screeches your palate with concentration for days yet like only great Champagne can do, this is all wrapped in a sea of finesse, layers and the finest mousse you can imagine. This is aged in oak, so there is a vinous quality that has to be tasted to beleived. This so linear, tensile and direct. The focus here is top notch. This is a baby but in 10-15 years watch out. From vines planted in 1946 this 100% Chardonnay is a steal at this price and is easily on the Grand Marques level. It is an exercise in volume, power, subltey and freshness.
David Léclapart has only about 3 hectares and makes only around 12,000 bottles of wine each year. He has 22 parcels of vines in the village of Trépail in the Montagne de Reims. Trépail's soil is a chalky clay marl with pockets of sandstone, sands and silty deposits. The result is a very intense and unique wine.
Léclapart turns traditional Champagne winemaking on its head. Rather than trying to manipulate the grapes to achieve a house style, he takes what the vintage gives him. The wines do have a distrinctive house style, but vary from year to year. Léclapart is certified biodynamic.
Léclapart turns traditional Champagne winemaking on its head. Rather than trying to manipulate the grapes to achieve a house style, he takes what the vintage gives him. The wines do have a distrinctive house style, but vary from year to year. Léclapart is certified biodynamic.
This offer closes MONDAY. Get your orders in.
February Ship
We have a shipment that has just arrived in the States and AMEDEO is processing our inventory in and we are gearing up to ship in mid-late February, depending on weather and location. This was supposed to be the November ship but got held up because of the wine harvest. No worries if your region is too cold as we will ship again in April/May and will have even more wine by then. Our new associate, Peter Smith, will be contacting you for your Feb and April/May ships.
WE NOW SHIP TO MASSACHUSETTS!
In February, Amedeo will ship to Massachusetts. We are thrilled about this.
Office Hours
I love drinking and selecting wines - but my passion for teaching people about wine is almost as big. I'm happy to announce a block of time each day where people can call me just to chat about wine in general. These blocks are NOT intended to sell wine (I do that all day). This is to talk to me about wine pairings or great producers or how long to age wines or styles of wine making or the latest wine controversy. My goal is to help people learn more about wine and enjoy it more. Call me at 917-912-4355 from 4-7 EST Monday - Friday.
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