# Pinot Noir "Les Forcières" À L'État Pur (2020)

- **Producer:** Domaine Aurélien Lurquin
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** 100% Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Average price:** €298
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** pear, orange zest, dried white flowers, youthful reduction, beeswax

## About this wine

Pinot Noir 'Les Forcières' À L'État Pur is a distinctive wine from Domaine Aurélien Lurquin, located in Romery, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne. Produced from 100% Pinot Noir grown on the single 'Les Forcières' parcel, it is available as a still Coteaux Champenois Rouge and as Champagne (Blanc de Noirs and Rosé). The vineyard, planted in the late 1980s, is known for its challenging conditions, resulting in very low yields and wines of exceptional purity. Aurélien Lurquin, a young winemaker with a philosophy rooted in natural and biodynamic practices, works the vines by hand with a horse, emphasizing minimal intervention to express the unique terroir. The 2020 vintage, in particular, is recognized for its pronounced intensity and complexity.

## Interesting facts

- The 'Les Forcières' parcel is only 0.75 hectares.
- Vines on this parcel are highly susceptible to drought and sunburn.
- Aurélien Lurquin uses a horse for vineyard work.
- Production is extremely limited, with some bottlings yielding only hundreds of bottles.

## Food pairing

The wine's high acidity and mineral notes cut through rich sauces and complement the natural sweetness of seafood. Its structure and complexity can stand up to richer poultry and game dishes, while subtle fruit notes can bridge to fruit-based sauces.

## Wine making process

Domaine Aurélien Lurquin employs a philosophy of minimal intervention and natural winemaking. Grapes from the 'Les Forcières' parcel are pressed gently using a traditional Coquart press, with juice flowing by gravity. Fermentations are spontaneous, utilizing indigenous yeasts in cement vats and barrels. The Champagne undergoes extended aging for two years in 228-liter oak barrels, with a portion of new oak, while the Coteaux Champenois can age for up to three years. Sustainability is paramount, with certified organic and biodynamic practices, including vineyard work with a horse and fostering biodiversity.