Leclerc Briant Cuvée Abyss 2017 Brut Zero (75cl, 12%)

Cuvée Abyss 2017 is a Brut Zero champagne from Leclerc Briant, blending a third each of Chardonnay from Bisseuil, Pinot Noir from Avenay-Val-d'Or and Pinot Meunier from Vrigny, all grown on chalk-rich soils. It was bottled in July 2018 and disgorged in early October 2021. What sets it apart is the final stage: the bottles spent ten months on the Atlantic seabed off the island of Ouessant, at 60 metres, where the pressure matches that inside a champagne bottle. They were raised in early October 2022. Fine, persistent bubbles lead to a concentrated, complex nose. The palate is fresh and creamy, with fruity and slightly exotic shades, and the finish brings citrus, white peach and wild rose with a mineral, lightly salty touch. It suits shellfish such as scallops or oysters, and grilled fish.