NV Bereche Brut Reserve

Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche have been working with thier father, Jean-Pierre, since 2004 at their nine hecatre estate in Champagne. Most of the vineyards are in Ludes and Craon de Ludes, the gravelly terroir of Ormes in the Petite Montagne, and the area around Mareuil-le-Port, on the left bank of the Vallée de la Marne. A small parcel is also found in Trépail, in the eastern Montagne de Reims. The brothers grow roughly equal amounts of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. In 2012, they acquired their first Grand Cru vineyard, a tiny, 15-are parcel in the village of Mailly.

The vineyards are all planted with cover crops and since 2007 have been converted to biodynamics. The wines are vinified mostly with natural yeasts, with about 75% of the wines fermented in barrel. There is no malolactic fermentation in any of the wines, and an increasing portion of the secondary fermentation is done under cork. The Bérêche wines are firm in strucutre with ample body and firm mineral driven acidity: They are amongst the most sought after and coveted growers, rightfully considered to be one of the elite producers in Champagne.

The Brut Réserve is equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. The wine displays lots of stone fruit, orange citrus and a strong stony minerality. Elegant, powerful and balanced, this is a stunning Champagne.