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Dosnon & Lepage
www.champagne-dosnon.com
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Simon-Charles Lepage & Davy Dosnon
Simon-Charles Lepage & Davy Dosnon
Country of Origin: France
Location: Avirey-Lingey
People: Davy Dosnon & Nicolas Laugerotte, Owners & Winemakers
Supplier: http://www.jondavidwine.com


Dosnon & Lepage is the partnership of two men, Simon-Charles Lepage and Davy Dosnon, who have combined their skills for the sake of a single mission: the production of Grands Vins de Champagne. (Simon Lepage has since split and Nicolas Laugerotte is the new partner.) Natives of Avirey-Lingey in the Côte des Bar (Aube Valley), they wanted to create modern and ecologically sustainable Maison de Champagne, endeavoring to achieve excellence and to honor and celebrate the diversity and quality of the terroirs.

Found in the southern part of the Champagne region, the vineyards are situated on rolling hills of Kimmeridgian soil like in Chablis and parts of Sancerre. This terroir, dominated by clayey-limestone soils, inspires particularly rich aromas and flavors in the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which acquire an exceptional finesse and fruitiness as they age. Dosnon & Lepage cultivates a two-hectare vineyard located in Avirey-Lingey and currently receives grapes from approximately five hectares of other vintners. No chemicals are ever used.

The grapes are always harvested by hand. They use vertical pressers, and during the extraction process, their design reduces the movement of the grapes to a minimum, releasing the finest, least-stained and perfectly lucid juices. Vinification takes place for the most part in contact with wood, followed by an optimum aging process with the goal in mind of developing complex and full champagnes while preserving their finesse and their purity with a low dosage. However, according to the variety of the grapes and the years, the weaker or less-structured wines must ferment in tanks to awaken their freshness, their acidity, and their fruit.

Traditionally, the three varieties of grapes of the Champagne region, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, rising from different crus and terroir, are brought together to create a 'brut sans annee'. However, at Dosnon & Lepage they wanted to take a differnet direction, one which diverges from this assemblage type. Always careful to respect the search for the purest expression of the terroir, they blend reserve wines at 100% of each of the two noble varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, to create unique 'Cuvées mono cépages' that epitomize la Côte des Bar.

The fundamental philosophy of Dosnon & Lepage is one of harmony: harmony of mankind, of terroirs, and of wine in their environment. Since 2002, 1% For The Planet has inspired members of the business community to contribute 1% of sales to 1679 environmental groups around the world. In return, this growing alliance of companies is given the opportunity not only to see their self-worth rise, but their net worth climb as well. Dosnon & Lepage is a member of 1% For The Planet since December 2007 and has chosen Patagonia as their environmental group.

Media Links
The New York Times Dining & Wine: Champagne's Servants Join the Masters
SFGate: Champagne's Aube gets a moment to sparkle
Items
Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Blanche Net Price Reviews —
Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Noire (Blanc de Noirs) Net Price Reviews —
Dosnon & Lepage (1.5 L) NV Récolte Noire (Blanc de Noirs) Net Price — —
Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Rose Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Blanche
Rating: 92

Pale yellow. Highly fragrant bouquet displays Meyer lemon, lime, jasmine, vanilla and a note of chalky minerals. Light-bodied, sharply focused citrus fruit and mineral flavors show nervy cut and lift, with a sweeter note of poached pear gaining strength in the glass. This dry, nervy, grown-up Champagne finishes with excellent clarity and stony persistence.

- International Wine Cellar (12/15/2012)

Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Blanche
Rating: 91

Vivid gold. Pungent scents of poached pear and honeycomb, with complicating notes of jasmine and smoky minerals. Deeply pitched orchard fruit and citrus rind flavors possess good heft and pick up a spicy quality with air. The most serious of this set of Champagnes, with very good finishing thrust and a late note of salty minerality. Give this some air

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2010)

Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Noire (Blanc de Noirs)
Rating: 92

Pale, bright straw color. High-pitched tangerine and melon aromas, with floral, vanilla and ginger nuances that expand with air. Stony and energetic but fleshy, offering potent orchard fruit and lemon curd flavors that show impressive depth. The broad, smoky, persistent finish leaves spice and vanilla notes in its wake.

- International Wine Cellar (12/15/2012)

Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Noire (Blanc de Noirs)
Rating: 91

This fresh, fragrant version offers layered flavors of peach gelée, damson plum preserves, smoke, fresh flowers and citrus zest, with accents of ground ginger, cinnamon and anise spice. Finely textured, with a juicy finish. Drink now through 2017.

- The Wine Spectator (6/15/2012)

Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Noire (Blanc de Noirs)
Rating: 89

The NV Brut Blanc de Noirs Recolte Noire is a touch more elegant than the Recolte Brute, with layers of perfumed Pinot fruit that emerge gracefully from its medium-bodied fame. This delicious Champagne possesses lovely balance in an understated style, though it does not have quite the personality and complexity of the Recolte Brute. Disgorged May, 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2011

- The Wine Advocate (12/22/2008)

Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Noire (Blanc de Noirs)
Rating: 93

Yellow-gold with a steady bead. Dried pear, citrus and smoky mineral aromas are complicated by floral, vanilla and blonde tobacco notes. Zesty, mineral-accented orange and pear flavors blend finesse with power, picking up a sweet honeysuckle quality with air. Finishes taut, long and vibrant, with the mineral note repeating. I love this style

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2008)

Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Noire (Blanc de Noirs)
Rating: 90

This is marked by spicy oak and coconut aromas, yet it's also full of lemon and pear notes. Assertive in flavor, but refined in texture, with a long, dry finish

- The Wine Spectator (11/30/2008)

Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Noire (Blanc de Noirs)
Rating: 91

A racy, precise Champagne. High-toned coconut, rye toast, orange peel and ginger flavors are supported by the bracing structure, yet this has intensity and grace, with a mouthwatering finish. Best from 209 through 2013

- The Wine Spectator (11/15/2008)

Dosnon & Lepage NV Recolte Rose
Rating: 93

Light, bright orange. Redcurrant, orange zest, jasmine and a hint of dusty minerals on the seductively perfumed nose. Juicy, vibrant and taut, offering powerful, spice- and mineral-accented flavors of red berries and candied orange peel. Silky and expansive on a finish resounding with orange and mineral notes.

- International Wine Cellar (12/15/2012)