David Léclapart

David Léclapart is one of Champagne's most distinctive voices (that I haven't tasted before lol) - a winemaker who's not only deeply rooted in tradition but also radically committed to pushing boundaries. He represents the fourth generation to farm his family's small 3-hectare estate in Trépail, a premier cru village nestled in the Montagne de Reims. He took over after his father passed away in 1996 and released his first wines under his own name in 1998.

What sets him apart? First, the farming. Léclapart was among the very first in Champagne to convert fully to biodynamics, earning both Ecocert and Demeter certification back in 2000 - a bold move in a region long wedded to industrial farming and blending. His entire production (with exception of entry-level cuvée) is single-vineyard, single-vintage, with no reserve wine and no dosage. Just a pure, transparent expression of place and year.