Description
What type of wine it is
The Bérèche Champagne Aÿ Grand Cru Extra Brut from the producer Bérèche is an excellent representative of the Champagne appellation. It is a rigorous Traditional Method wine produced from a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This wine is distinguished by a fresh and very dry profile, enriched by a creamy and concentrated texture that leads into a particularly persistent finish. The Champagne offers a bouquet characterised by fruity aromas and marked mineral notes, an expression of the old vines from which it originates, and is vinified in neutral oak barrels which give it structure and complexity.
Where it comes from
This wine originates in the prestigious area of Aÿ Grand Cru, located within the Vallée de la Marne, one of the central areas of the region. The local climate, typically oceanic with continental influence, ensures cool and temperate conditions, favourable for the slow ripening of the grapes. The soil of the historic vineyards, populated by vines over fifty years old, is predominantly composed of craie, a chalky substrate covered by surface layers of silt and clay. This specific geological composition plays a fundamental role in the development of the organoleptic profile, bringing distinct mineral hints. The estate cultivates these lands following rigorous sustainable practices, protecting an agricultural heritage whose origins date back to 1847.
How it is produced
Production scrupulously follows the dictates of the Traditional Method, starting with a manual harvest that involves a rigorous selection of the bunches directly in the vineyard. Fermentation takes place slowly and spontaneously for three or four weeks, using indigenous yeasts inside neutral oak barrels, a step aimed at preserving the primary characteristics of the varietal. Subsequently, the wine undergoes prolonged ageing on the lees, traditionally sealed with a natural cork, an essential phase for the development of its creaminess. The process concludes with the disgorgement phase, completing a precise oenological process that is attentive to maintaining the qualities of the terroir.
History and curiosities
Founded in 1847 by Albert Bérèche in Ludes, on the prestigious slopes of the Montagne de Reims, Maison Bérêche & Fils preserves nearly two centuries of fascinating family history. Today, this precious legacy is entrusted to the fifth generation, represented by brothers Vincent and Raphaël. The former tends to the historic vineyards, which boast vines over fifty years old, while the latter dedicates himself to winemaking, in a continuous dialogue that unites heritage and vision. Between the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne, the house's identity has been forged with profound authenticity.
Tasting notes
Perlage
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
06 - 08 °C
Longevity:
15 - 25 years
- Start up year: 1847
- Bottles produced: 85.000
- Hectares: 10
Every action has been adequately thought out. Of course our land is plowed and we also use weed control to limit disease. This vegetation cover avoids herbicides, insecticides and anti-rots. Everything begins with the soil. The fertilization is organic. We feed wildlife which in turn feeds flora and thus the soil is working. As a result the House Bérêche has one of the lowest treatment frequency index in the Champagne region. It is also among the first to be certified High Environmental Quality (level 3). Read more
| Name | Bereche Champagne AY Grand Cru Extra Brut Millesime 2018 |
|---|---|
| Type | White green still extra brut |
| Denomination | Coteaux Champenoise AOC |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 75% Pinot Nero, 25% Chardonnay |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne region |
| Vendor | Bereche |
| Story | History and curiosities Founded in 1847 by Albert Bérèche in Ludes, on the prestigious slopes of the Montagne de Reims, Maison Bérêche & Fils preserves nearly two centuries of fascinating family history. Today, this precious legacy is entrusted to the fifth generation, represented by brothers Vincent and Raphaël. The former tends to the historic vineyards, which boast vines over fifty years old, while the latter dedicates himself to winemaking, in a continuous dialogue that unites heritage and vision. Between the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne, the house's identity has been forged with profound authenticity. |
| Origin | Marne Valley, Aÿ Grand Cru |
| Climate | Oceanic with continental influence, cool and temperate |
| Soil composition | Predominantly chalky (craie) with surface layers of silt and clay |
| Plants per hectare | Nine thousand |
| Yield per hectare | 45 - 50 hectolitres per hectare |
| Harvest | Manual, with rigorous sorting of the grapes in the vineyard |
| Fermentation temperature | 18 degrees Celsius |
| Fermentation | Slow and natural fermentation of approximately 3-4 weeks |
| Production technique | Traditional Method |
| Wine making | A blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. Vinification and spontaneous fermentation carried out on the lees in neutral oak barrels of various capacities. |
| Aging | Extended ageing on the lees under cork until disgorgement in January 2026. |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |

