The house of Leclerc Briant is one of the pioneers of biodynamics in Champagne. Back in the late 1950s, Bertrand Leclerc spread the word about it within his family and put it into practice in his vineyards. It was his son Pascal, Leclerc's fifth generation, who set to work obtaining the first full certifications. A deep respect for nature and terroirs has always been paramount at Leclerc Briant. Now all vineyard plots are certified organic and biodynamic.
Founded in 1872 by Lucien Leclerc in the village of Cumières, the company moved to its current premises on the Chemin de la Chaude Ruelle in Epernay in 1955. Thanks to the dynamism of Bertrand Leclerc, the great-grandson of the founder and of his wife Jacqueline Briant, the company changed at that time to the status of "Maison de Négoce" (or trading house). This allowed them to process fruit from vineyards not owned by them.
In 2012, following the death of Pascal Leclerc, the house Leclerc Briant was saved from oblivion when it was acquired by Mark Nunelly and Denise Dupré. This American couple loves the French "art de vivre. The couple instantly fell in love with Leclerc Briant's non-conformist character. They are joined by Frédéric Zeimett, born in Champagne, who has since steered the house to the highest standards. Previously, Frédéric gained experience at Moët & Chandon and was introduced to biodynamics at Michel Chapoutier in the Rhone.
New Leclerc Briant owner Denise Dupré immediately took a bold approach by purchasing 14 hectares of Premier Cru vineyards. All are certified organic and cultivated biodynamically. The annual production of this small house is around 130,000 bottles. All Champagnes also have the vegan seal of approval.
Leclerc Briant is now mentioned in the same breath as top houses like Krug and Roederer. They specialize in the production of single vineyard Champagnes, always with vintage.