Maison Lefébure: Stella Maris Blanc de Blancs

Maison Lefébure: Stella Maris Blanc de Blancs

The Cuvée

Maison Lefébure, led by Sébastien and Marie-Laurène, considers itself a "Disciple du Sol," a student of the soil. The house works in two terroirs simultaneously, the Côte du Petit Morin and the Côte des Bar, and consistently places soil characteristics at the center. Tradition and creative freedom belong together here, right down to the artistically designed labels.

Stella Maris, the star of the sea, is the best example of this. The label itself, with its mermaid, plays with Botticelli's Birth of Venus, a humorous connection between antiquity, art history, and pleasure. In the glass is a pure Blanc de Blancs: one hundred percent Chardonnay from the Côte du Petit Morin, aged in oak barrels, unfiltered and riddled by hand.

As an Extra Brut, the wine initially shows mineral precision, but opens with air and time to a buttery creaminess with a hint of popcorn. A bottle that rewards patience and the right temperature, ideally between ten and twelve degrees, where the fine nuances fully unfold.

My Tastings

Sometimes a label tells just as much as the champagne itself, and with the Stella Maris Blanc de Blancs, a closer look is worthwhile.

Stella Maris, "Star of the Sea," a name that sounds both maritime and mystical. But behind the playful label is more than just a beautiful illustration. My interpretation: the motif reminds me of classical depictions of the birth of Venus, particularly Botticelli's masterpiece. The mermaid with champagne glass seems to be a humorous adaptation of this mythological scene, a mix of antiquity, art history, and pleasure culture.

This fits perfectly with a winery that is deeply rooted in the Côte du Petit Morin, but simultaneously combines traditional winemaking and creative freedom. Also interesting is the quote from Leon Battista Alberti (1450) that Maison Lefébure posted in connection with this champagne: "Painting is a window to the world." So is this label also a window, into the winemaker's world, into the philosophy behind the wine?

About the champagne itself: 100% Chardonnay from the Côte du Petit Morin, aged in oak barrels, unfiltered and hand-riddled, Extra Brut, with mineral precision and creamy structure. Drinking temperature 10 to 12 degrees recommended, tasted between 7 and 12 degrees, where the fine nuances come through much better at warmer temperature. After 15 minutes in the glass, the buttery creaminess becomes more dominant, and a hint of popcorn comes through, an exciting champagne that really develops with some air contact.

Details

Producer Maison Lefébure
Cuvée Stella Maris Blanc de Blancs
Category Blanc de Blancs
Grape Varieties Chardonnay (100%)
Terroir Côte du Petit Morin
Aging Oak barrel, unfiltered, hand-riddled
Style Extra Brut
Highlights mineral, creamy, oak barrel aging, buttery

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