For NV cuvées, what is the minimum time on the lees?

For NV cuvées, what is the minimum time on the lees?

• A. 6 months
• B. 12 months
• C. 24 months
• D. 3 months

Answer: (B)

Lees aging is the time a Champagne spends resting on its yeast lees after the second fermentation. For non-vintage cuvées, regulations require at least twelve months on the lees before disgorgement. This minimum ensures a baseline development of autolytic flavors—bready, biscuit-like notes and a creamy texture—that characterize NV Champagnes. Since NV blends combine wines from multiple vintages, the 12-month requirement provides a consistent minimum level of complexity across releases. Longer lees aging can add more depth, but twelve months is the established minimum for NV cuvées.

Lees aging is the time a Champagne spends resting on its yeast lees after the second fermentation. For non-vintage cuvées, regulations require at least twelve months on the lees before disgorgement. This minimum ensures a baseline development of autolytic flavors—bready, biscuit-like notes and a creamy texture—that characterize NV Champagnes. Since NV blends combine wines from multiple vintages, the 12-month requirement provides a consistent minimum level of complexity across releases. Longer lees aging can add more depth, but twelve months is the established minimum for NV cuvées.