Benoît Déhu Initiation Champagne

We were invited by our friends to join them for an early Valentine's Day dinner at Lake of Isles. My husband brought along this Benoît Déhu Initiation Champagne to begin the festivities.
First of all, just look at this label! It is minimalist to the max. I did see a raised imprint of Benoît Déhu on the label that my husband missed. Upon first opening this bottle, an aroma eminated from the champagne that was like the genie coming out of the lamp, very floral and enticing. This champagne is a Vintage 2019 which was disgorged in 2022 and no dosage was added. It is an extra brut style with 77% Pinot Meunier and 23% Pinot Noir. The champagne had a depth and complexity and roundness to it that was very appealing. It had notes of orange rind and toasted hazelnuts. Oh, did we like this champagne!
I had to find out more about this champagne and went to the Polaner Selections site where I learned more information about Benoît Déhu and his champagne. The Champagne house of Déhu Père et Fils was founded in 1787 and Benoît Déhu is the eighth generation vigneron.

Déhu spent some time at Bollinger and came back to the family estate located on the far western edge of the Vallée de la Marne. In order to realize his passion, Benoît purchased 1.70 hectares of vines from his family. These vines are densely planted at 8,000 plants per hectare, plowed by horse and biodynamically farmed. These champagnes are made under his own label, Champagne Benoît. The results are champagnes that are naturally farmed, handmade, artisanal, and of a very limited production.
Initiation is a blend of Meunier from La Rue des Noyers and Pinot Noir from a small parcel dominated by clay and sand at the bottom of the hill, which Benoit planted using massale selection Pommard clone from Burgundy.
Only indigenous yeasts are used and Benoît prefers all fermentation and aging to occur in oak barrels. The barrels themselves are made from trees Benoît owns, grown 30 minutes away in Meilleray and fabricated by a barrel maker in Champagne. Benoît released the first Cuvee Initiation in 2018.
Kudos to my husband for introducing us to Initiation!
References:
1. Polaner Selections site, Benoît Déhu Champagne.
2. Benoît Déhu, McCarus Beverage Company.