Champagne Bérèche et Fils & Cooperage Manufacture La Grange:
Craftsmanship of Excellence as a Revealer of the Champagne Terroir
While the Champagne region owes part of its fame to the large houses, it is now driven by a new wave of artisan winemakers from a new generation, determined to showcase the uniqueness of their vineyards and terroirs. Their goal is to affirm the wine’s identity, while respecting the Champagne heritage.
Maison Bérèche et Fils, located in the Montagne de Reims in Ludes, has been part of this dynamic since 2004 with the arrival of Raphaël and Vincent at the helm. Precision in ripeness, meticulous soil work, gentle pressing and must separation, oak barrel fermentation, cork-based secondary fermentation, and extended aging on lees: each step is carefully executed to assert the wine’s origin.
The Montagne de Reims is a true mosaic of microclimates where Pinot Noirs are subtly defined. In terms of aging, transforming freshness and citrus notes with a noble, discreet oak influence is a priority. In this sense, the Bérèche brothers have chosen 350-liter barrels from Manufacture Tonnelière La Grange, an ideal size for the balance they seek in Champagne winemaking. The blend of Bertranges and Tronçais gives structure to the Pinots and highlights the fruit.
Tasting wines aged in La Grange barrels from the 2023 Mailly Grand Cru appellation at Bérèche offers Pinots with salinity and chalk, delivering a rich, voluptuous mid-palate with pronounced notes of blood orange. The finish is precise and refined. The delicate contribution of oak tames the iron character of this Grand Cru without losing its identity.
The craftsmanship of excellence from the coopers at Manufacture Tonnelière La Grange resonates with the philosophy of Champagne winemakers. Both share the same pursuit of purity: just as bubbles in Champagne highlight the nobility of terroir, the toasting of barrels subtly reveals the noble origin of oak.
Pictures © Christophe Deschanel
