Leclere Torrens

Leclère Torrens is a small family estate in Crouttes-sur-Marne, in the Aisne département on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne. The house lies between Reims and Paris, on the Route Touristique du Champagne. Nathalie Leclère and Romaric Torrens have deliberately built the business on craft principles and use only grapes from their own vineyards.

Family and vineyards

The estate in its present form dates from 1996 and began with just 2,500 bottles. Today around ten times that quantity is shipped, spread across seven cuvées. The couple work together with their children.

They farm just under 4 hectares in the AOC Champagne. These are divided into roughly 30 plots in Charly-sur-Marne, Crouttes-sur-Marne, Nanteuil-sur-Marne and Villiers-Saint-Denis. The varieties grown are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Meunier is the leading grape of the Vallée de la Marne and shapes the style of the house. The plots are worked in agriculture raisonnée, and the family vinifies the cuvées themselves. We were unable to verify an organic certification. According to the estate, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks or acacia barrels.

The cuvées

• Brut: 60% Pinot Meunier, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay, dosage 12 g/l. The tasting notes mention fruity, toasty tones and gingerbread.
• PurMalys: a blend of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the same year. It used to be called Réserve.
• Blanc de Blancs: 100% Chardonnay, depending on the vintage from a single plot.
• Rosé: the base is a Blanc de Blancs, to which 10 to 15% red wine from Crouttes-sur-Marne is added.
• Éphémère: listed as 100% Meunier. One edition was a blend of two Pinot Noir plots.
• Brut Nature: 60% Meunier, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay.

Visiting and tasting

The estate offers tastings and has a car park. The address is 13 rue de la Marne. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 5pm. According to the Comité Champagne directory, information on site is given in French. You can also order online via the website.