Liebart-Regnier 'Horti' Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne, France

From the limestone slopes of Vauciennes in the Vallée de la Marne comes the Liébart-Régnier Horti Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, a Champagne that pays homage to forgotten heritage. Crafted entirely from rare white grape varieties, Arbanne, Petit Meslier, and Pinot Blanc, this cuvée revives the taste of centuries past, when such grapes were the heart of Champagne’s tapestry. Named for Les Jardins (“Hortï” in Latin), the single hillside plot where the fruit grows, this is a wine of purity, precision, and poetry, a living bridge between Champagne’s history and its future.

Product Details:

• Owners: Laurent and Valérie Liébart, with daughters Alexandra and Marion
• Winemaker: Laurent Liébart
• Cuvée: Horti Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Plot: Les Jardins (“Hortï”)
• Soil: Clay-limestone, mid-slope vineyard
• Farming: Certified HVE (High Environmental Value) since 2015; VDC (Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne) since 2018; in organic conversion since 2020
• Grape Composition: Arbanne, Petit Meslier, and Pinot Blanc
• Harvest: August 26, 2018
• Fermentation: Oak barrel fermentation with malolactic conversion
• Aging: 3 years on lees
• Dosage: 3 g/L (Extra Brut)
• ABV: 12%
• Color: Brilliant pale gold with fine, persistent mousse
• Production Type: Blanc de Blancs, Non-Vintage (BSA)

Sensory Description:

The Horti Blanc de Blancs opens with a bouquet that feels both ancient and vibrant, with aromas of pear sorbet, apple blossom, and quince that mingle with notes of orange zest and toasted almond. The palate is supple yet taut, revealing orchard fruit, white peach, and a touch of brioche underpinned by bright acidity and mineral precision. Fine bubbles lift a core of creamy texture and chalky depth, leading to a long, saline finish that hums with freshness and quiet power.

Awards & Accolades:

• 92 Points – Wine Enthusiast: “A fine, bone-dry Champagne softened by ripe fruit, green apples and a touch of orange citrus.” - Roger Voss (Sept. 2023)
• 88 Points – Gault & Millau (2025): “Pear sorbet, apple juice, and woody aromas. Beneath fine bubbles, notes of quince and grilled pear pulp linger to a taut, almond-inflected finish.”

Winemaker's Background:

Founded in 1960 by Lucien Liébart and Georgette Régnier, Champagne Liébart-Régnier continues a lineage of seven generations devoted to the land. Today, Laurent and Valérie Liébart, alongside their daughters Alexandra and Marion, oversee 11 hectares of vineyards spread across 32 parcels in Vauciennes and Baslieux-sous-Châtillon. Their philosophy marries family heritage with sustainable innovation, crafting Champagnes that reflect both nature’s rhythm and the patience of true grower-producers. Horti embodies its commitment to honoring forgotten grape varieties and cultivating the living memory of their terroir.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve chilled at 9–10°C in a tulip-shaped Champagne flute or white wine glass to capture its aromatic range and fine texture. This elegant Extra Brut pairs beautifully with ceviche of scallops with olive oil and lemon zest, oysters with mignonette, or lightly grilled white fish. It also shines alongside soft cheeses or as an aperitif for refined occasions.

The Liébart-Régnier Horti Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is Champagne for the true connoisseur, distinctive, cerebral, and profoundly expressive. Each sip tells the story of old vines, living soils, and a family devoted to reviving the lost voices of Champagne’s white grapes.