Champagne Brut Nature
L'Ecureuil Tome II

The Champagne L'Écureuil by Domaine Les Croix from Gaspard Brochet represents one of the most delicate and profound interpretations of Pinot Noir on the south-western slope of the Montagne de Reims. The grapes come from the lieu-dit Les Beaux Bras, in the Premier Cru of Écueil, a plot planted in 1956 whose silty soil with the presence of chalk lends the wine finesse, tension and mineral verticality. With this Blanc de Noirs, Gaspard Brochet continues his reflection on the living matter of wine, exploring the subtle interplay between time, oxygen and soil, in a project born from the union of technical rigour and instinctive sensitivity, where every gesture in the cellar becomes an instrument of precision and creative freedom.

This edition, Tome II built on the 2022 harvest, is made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes, with a vinification that follows a gravity-fed approach in oak barrels, without fining, racking or filtration and with barrels left unfilled, fostering a slight controlled oxidation that enhances complexity and aromatic depth. After the tirage comes an ageing on its own lees for a minimum period of 24 months, while at dégorgement, with no final dosage, in a Brut Nature style, the wine preserves intact the expressive purity of Pinot Noir and the transparency of the terroir.

On tasting, L'Écureuil Tome II stands out for its elegant and measured energy. The bouquet is clear and complex, with notes of raspberry, pomegranate, dried herbs, hazelnut and nuances of delicate smoke, interwoven with a distinct chalky texture. On the palate it is taut and vibrant, supported by a saline freshness that balances the creamy material and lends momentum and precision to the palate. The finish is long and harmonious, with a close that recalls candied citrus, fresh almond and wet stone, elegantly signing the oenological poetics of Gaspard Brochet, a sensitive and contemporary interpreter of the Pinot Noir of Écueil.