# Origines Croisées (2012)

- **Producer:** Champagne Bertrand-Delespierre
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €66
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** dried apricot, apple, pear, dried fruits, pastry, biscuit, smoke, dried apricot, hazelnut, almond, orange marmalade

## About this wine

Origines Croisées 2012 is a vintage Brut Champagne from Champagne Bertrand-Delespierre, a family-run estate founded in 1980. The cuvée, meaning 'Crossed Origins,' represents the union of the Bertrand and Delespierre families and is crafted from a 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir blend. The grapes are sourced from Premier Cru vineyards located in Chamery and Ecueil, within the Montagne de Reims region. The wine is characterized by an Extra Brut dosage, with a residual sugar level of 2g/l. The estate emphasizes sustainable viticulture and biodiversity in its vineyard management. The cuvée highlights the quality of the 2012 vintage, offering a wine described as both powerful and refined.

## Interesting facts

- Cuvée name 'Origines Croisées' means 'Crossed Origins', symbolizing family union.
- Grapes hail from Premier Cru vineyards in Montagne de Reims.
- Aged for 6 years on lees for enhanced complexity.
- Extra Brut dosage with only 2g/l residual sugar.

## Food pairing

The wine's lively acidity cuts through the richness of creamy sauces and fatty proteins, while its complexity complements dishes with nuanced flavors like truffles or herbs. The mineral notes can also echo the brininess of seafood.

## Wine making process

Origines Croisées 2012 is produced using traditional Champagne methods with specific stylistic choices. Grapes are pressed, and the juices undergo spontaneous fermentation in either stainless steel tanks or 600-liter demi-muids. Malolactic fermentation is typically avoided to maintain freshness. Following primary fermentation, the wine is aged for six years on its lees (sur lattes) before disgorgement. The estate employs sustainable viticulture, avoiding herbicides and pesticides and promoting biodiversity in its vineyards.