Seven cépages of the C.O.A. Champagne

The specifications of the P.O.A. “Champagne” authorize only the use of seven cépages in the soils of Champagne : the Pinot noir, the Pinot Meunier, the Chardonnay, the Arbanne, Small Meslier, the White Pinot and the Pinot gris.
And among these, three first ones (Pinot noir, Pinot Miller and Chardonnay) represent more than 99,5 % of the grape in Champagne.

Because it is the nature of soils, the qualities of balance sugar / acidity and their good capacity in secondth fermentation which guided the selection of these vines the best adapted to our region.

Jules Guyot, doctor and French physicist of the IXth century, especially known for his wine-making studies and author of a rich ” Study of the vineyards of France, to be of use to the mutual education of the French vine growing and the wine making ” so noticed already, in 1866, the importance, in the creation of the wine of champagne (volume II), the assembly of grapes stemming from various vines or from various plots of land.

It is the same Doctor Guyot who gave his name to famous techniques of size – recommending the long size of the vineyard to remedy, originally, the weakness of the yields in certain productions – today widely adopted in numerous vineyards.

Seven cuvées Mater & Filii

The pinot noir represents 38 % of the standing vineyard. Completed on the calcareous and fresh grounds, it is the dominant vine of the Mountain of Reims and the Coast of the Bar. Wines which arise from it distinguish themselves by aromas of red berries and marked structure. It is the vine which brings to the assembly of the body and the power, as in the cuvée Dégustation Mater & Filii or the cuvée Blanc de noirs Mater & Filii, with its asserted character. 

The meunier represents 32 % of surfaces. Strong vine, are more particularly advisable in the more clayey soils, as those of our Valley of the Marne, and adapt better of more difficult weather conditions for the vineyard. It gives flexible and fruity wines which evolve a little more quickly in time and bring to the assembly of the curvature. It reminds you of course a large number of our champagnes, as the cuvée Tradition Mater & Filii, the cuvée Fût de chêne Mater & Filii, the cuvée Symphonie Mater & Filii or still the surprising cuvée Crescendo Mater & Filii.

The Chardonnay, finally, occupies 30 % of the vineyard. It is the dominant vine of the Coast of the whites. Wines of Chardonnay are characterized by delicate aromas, floral notes, citrus fruits, sometimes mineral. In slow evolution, it is the ideal vine for the ageing of wines, represented by the cuvée Blanc de blancs Mater & Filii.

Enjoy the tasting, …in moderation ;-).