THE JEFFERSON CLUB - FEBRUARY 2022
Ready for Valentine’s? We have you covered at Just A Taste. This month, our Jefferson Club members will enjoy an exceptionally well-crafted bottle from exceptional vineyards in Champagne with J. Lassalle Premier Cru Brut Rose!
J. LASSALLE PREMIER CRU BRUT ROSE
NV
Winemaker: Angeline Templier (granddaughter of Jules Lassalle
Region: Champagne, FRA
Grape Varietal: 70% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay
Viticulture: Limestone and clay soils, all premier cru status
Method: all base cuvees undergo malolactic and extensive aging before assemblage; aged 42 months on the lees
Serving Suggestions: serve at 44-48F in a large burgundy glass
Age: drink 2022 - 2026
Nose: strawberries and cream; raspberry cordial
Palate: lush and vibrant with generous and pillowy bubbles
Finish: noticeable longevity with cream and vanilla
ABOUT J. LASSALLE
Jules Lassalle first founded the estate in 1942 with the desire to establish an elegant, refined wines that reflect the character of their southern neighbor of Burgundy. After his passing in 1982, his wife and daughter took the reigns brandishing a new message with the same wines: une femme, un epsirt, un style (one woman, one spirit, one style). Under the direction of Angeline Templier, Jule's’ granddaughter, that spirit remains alongside the original wooden basket press first used by Jules. The Lassalle family tends 16 hectares of exclusively premiuer cru vineyards scattered across Champagne and was among the first grower champagnes imported by legendary Kermit Lynch.
ABOUT THE WINE
The J. Lassalle style may focus on elegance and precision, but what brings them into the spotlight is ripeness. The premier crus of Champagne are named such because they consistently produce ripe fruit throughout most vintages. This depth is intensified in the methods Templier employs (following the traditions of her mother, grandmother, and grandfather). All the cuvees undergo Malolactic Fermentation converting the sharp apple-like brightness into a creamy rounded mouthfeel and flavor. Once assembled, the wines referment in bottle and stay on the lees for a minimum of 42 months and typically as long as 5 years, a condition normally reserved only for vintage Champagne. The results are noticeable in the glass: aromas of cherry liqueur, vanilla, and ripe fruit swell and playfully linger in the finish.
“One of my favorite Champagne producers, J. Lassalle has turned out a spectacular non-vintage Brut Rose. It exhibits a light salmon/pinkish hue, and a gorgeously fresh, ripe nose of framboise reminiscent of a kir royale. This concentrated, yet delicate, authoritatively-flavored Champagne is dry, intensely rich, with plenty of cherry/strawberry-like flavors, medium body, and a long, fresh finish.”