Bérêche et Fils - Champagne Coteaux Champenois 'Grand Cru Aÿ' Blanc 2023

Jean-Pierre Bérêche was one of the first growers to establish an independent reputation, and his sons Raphaël and Vincent have built on that work to craft some of today’s most distinctive Champagnes. With roughly equal plantings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier spread over multiple villages, the brothers have an incredible diversity of sources within their 9 hectares. Fastidious viticulture is part of their secret, but the duo brings equal focus to every facet of their work. One notable example is their usage of cork – instead of crown cap - for aging young Champagnes en tirage.

Key to the fantastic complexity of the Bérêche Champagnes are the number of different terroirs that make up the estate’s holdings. Their holdings can be found, for example, in their home village of Ludes on the chalky Montagne de Reims, in Ormes, in the Petite Montagne de Reims and Mareuil le Port, in the western Vallée de la Marne.

These are augmented by small plots in Trépail on the eastern slope of the Montagne de Reims, from 2012, the estate’s first Grand Cru site, a tiny parcel in Mailly and in 2013 a half-hectare in Rilly la Montagne, just west of Ludes. Apart from the Brut Réserve, Raphaël and Vincent experiment tirelessly with the character of these very different terroirs, creating a range of cuvées prized for their originality.

Aromas of stone, chalk, and fresh red berries. The fresh palate is broad and powerful where spices dominate, cardamom and white pepper underline the structure.

Producer: Bérêche et Fils

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Coteaux Champenois 

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml