Get to know: Champagne Delavenne Balbiacus
A refined and expressive Grand Cru Champagne from the village of Bouzy in the Montagne de Reims.
Tasting Note
Champagne Delavenne Balbiacus is an elegant Blanc de Noirs made from 100% Pinot Noir. Pale golden in colour with a fine, persistent mousse. On the nose, it offers notes of red berries (raspberry, currant), brioche, and subtle mineral undertones. On the palate it’s rounded and supple, with soft red fruit flavours and lively freshness, finishing with a persistent, vibrant mineral edge. This Champagne feels pure, balanced and wonderfully expressive of its Pinot Noir roots.
Top food pairings:
- Smoked salmon or gravlax
- Light canapés such as duck rillettes or mushroom tartlets
- Soft cheeses like Brie or Comté
Kate Says
"Another delicious Champagne from Delavenne. I love its mix of red fruit and brioche, all wrapped up in a mineral freshness - it’s refined, supple and very much textbook Blanc De Noir Champagne."
Producer Info
Maison Delavenne is a family-run grower-producer (Récoltant-Manipulant) based in Bouzy, Champagne. Now headed by Jean-Christophe Delavenne, the estate works sustainably (in conversion to organic) across its Grand Cru vineyards. Their winemaking philosophy is very hands-on and low intervention, preserving purity of terroir and the character of each parcel.
How it’s made:
- Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir
- Grapes sourced from their own Grand Cru vines in Bouzy
- Spontaneous (wild-yeast) primary fermentation
- No malolactic fermentation, to retain freshness
- Aged on lees in chalk cellars for a minimum of three years (or more for certain batches)
Good to know:
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Region: Champagne, Montagne de Reims (Bouzy Grand Cru)
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Style: Sparkling / Blanc de Noirs
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Closure: Traditional cork
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Vegan: Yes
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ABV: 12.5%
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Vintage: 2018
Why we love it:
This Bouzy Grand Cru Champagne shows how expressive Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims can be: refined red-fruit character, mineral depth and graceful length. It’s a wonderfully balanced Champagne that works beautifully as an aperitif but also pairs superbly with food.