Grapes: Meunier
Region: Charly Sur Marne, Vallee de la Marne, Champagne, France
Vintage: 2016
Viticulture: Organic
Soils: Sandy Soil
Yeasts: Native
Vinification: Direct press then fermented in barrels for 11 months
Aging: Yeast added for 2nd fermentation in July of 2017, then fermented in bottle for 18 months
Fining or Filtering: Disgorged
Dosage: 0 g/l
Notes from the Importer: Jérôme is a native of the “Far West” of the Marne valley, at the edge of the Champagne appellation, in the towns of Saulchery, Charly Sur Marne, Bonneil and Crogy. Here, Jérôme creates Champagne Delalot and Champagne Jerome Lefevre.
Jérôme’s teenage years were guided by a deep passion for heavy mental and the family life of vineyards trained by his mother, Eliane Delalot. Not till several years of working as an art critic and art curator did Jerome’s passion towards the craft of Champagne arise. Elaine’s respectful farming practices became organic certification under Jerome’s direction in 2009.
Inspired by the Fukuoka principals of farming, Jerome began his journey into winemaking. Since his first harvest in 2013, Jerome has grown his vineyards from 1ha to 1.5ha while tending to his land like a gardener. He does not use any heavy machinery, including tractors. The vineyards are located on slopes facing south and southeast with predominately sandy soil and some clay.
It’s impossible to classify Jerome’s style. Each cuvée comes from specific parcels and are experimental. He seeks the boundaries of what Champagne allows him to do and sometimes tries new techniques while maintaining respect of the terroir. As it is hard to find more vineyards, Jerome’s Champagne Delalot production is limited to 5,000 bottles.
As Champagne changes, Jerome is at the forefront of a new generation of wine producers that offer us wine lovers with that thrill of a first-time discovery.
