Bereche et fils: Champagne House Guide

We'd like to introduce you to one of our partner estates: Domaine Bérêche & fils. Do you know the history of this champagne house and its cuvées? This article will help you get to the heart of this estate's history and discover the breadth of its cuvées. You can also find our other guides to the finest wine estates.

> All Guides to partner wineries

 

The origins of La Maison Bérêche et fils

Albert Bérêchea winegrower and café owner of Hungarian origin, settled in Champagne in 1847. He ran a café on his own land, while harvesting 3 hectares of vines. His grape yields supplied the cellars of the Canard Duchêne champagne house, which at the time was one of the biggest producers along with Pommery. In 1911, Champagne winegrowers disapproved of merchants' decision to source grapes from outside Champagne, mainly from the south of France and Algeria. Many cellars were destroyed and 5,000 guards restored order. Leon Bérêche increased viticulture and enlarged the estate in the early 20th century. He married Cécile Quenardel, also from a large Champagne family. He won a silver medal in Paris in 1895 thanks to the success of his only cuvée de vin brut. At the end of 1920, he produced a "vin brut de champagne non mousseux" on his estate, an old appellation referring to Coteaux-Champenois. During the First World War, the winegrower fought, and in 1932, Léon offered a 5% discount on his cuvées for former poilus. Leon's son Pierre doubled the size of the vineyard to a total of 6 hectares, after a marriage that took place following the Second World War. Pierre Bérêche abandoned the Canard Duchêne company altogether. He expanded bottled production, trading and the wines of Bérêche et fils estate. These wines were mainly sold to a visiting clientele. In 1978, Jean-Pierre and Catherine Bérêche take over the reins of the estate. They set about increasing production from 30,000 to 80,000 bottles. They stopped treating the vines with herbicide in 2003.

 

The new era of the estate

Situated in the north-western part of the Montagne de Reims region, the estate's viticulture is exemplary, not far from organic, and not far from expressive, characterful champagnes produced by selective, parcel-based vinification. This is the culmination of rigorous work by Raphaël Bérêchethe winemaker, and his younger brother VincentThey are among the most ambitious winemakers in Champagne. They were trained by their grandfather Jean-Pierre over 20 years ago. It's a land of predominantly Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes, naturally solid, and the search for ripeness never depends on the taste in the mouth. Dosages are fine, and for best tasting, it's best to leave it in the cellar for one or two years before opening. Around 110,000 bottles are produced each year. The average age of the vines is 40 years, with red grape varieties (Pinot meunier 57%, Pinot noir 43%) and white varieties (Chardonnay 100%).

 

The estate's great vintages :

• Mailly Champagne Grand Cru :

The vines are over 60 years old and are planted on a surface area of 0.60 ha. Over 2,100 bottles are produced each year. It comes from the Grande Montagne de Reims, Maily-Champagne, Grand Cru terroir and the Les Chalois parcels. The soil is a deep brown chalky clay composed of 100 % of Pinot noir. Fermentation is slow in barrel, with ageing on lees, and the wine is aged under cork for 54 months. Dosage is 3.5 g / L. Maily has a chalky, insistent texture and is colder. It reveals aromas of citrus oil, green pear, fresh pastry, beeswax and smoke. Medium- to full-bodied, chalky and incisive, it is long and concentrated, with a resonant, saline finish.

 

• Montées coteaux champenois grand cru :

This cuvée is planted on a surface area of 0.25 ha at an altitude of 113 m with a slope of 5 %. It produces an average of 800 bottles. It comes from elm, Pinot Noir and Meunier terroirs. The soil is deep, clayey, chalky and sandy. The blend is composed of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Meunier. Maceration lasts 8 to 10 days with 70 % whole bunches, followed by 18 months in wood and bottling with a two-beaked goat. No fining or filtration. Delicate and floral, with purity throughout, this wine pulsates with energy. Red and purplish fruits, rose petals, lavender and a host of floral/savory notes lead to a super-expressive finish.

 

•  Champagne Rive Gauche :

This cuvée is planted on a surface area of 0.45 ha with an average production of 4171 bottles from the terroir. It is made from 100 % of Meunier grapes. The wine is aged slowly in barrels, on lees for 36 months on laths, and foams under cork. Dosage is 3 g/l. This cuvée lets you explore the character of the Meunier grape. Notes of hazelnut, smoke, spice and dried orchard fruit are beautifully brought to the fore in this beautifully resonant, discreet champagne. It's cool, north-facing and produces wines of remarkable personality and class. It's absolutely remarkable and recommended drinking over the next few years.

 

• Reflets d'antan :

This cuvée covers an area of 0.60 ha, with vines over 30 years old. It produces an average of 3,600 bottles, including 250 magnums. The quality of the soil is poor, very chalky, with chalk outcrops. The blend comprises 30% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 35% Meunier. Each year, 30 % of reserve wines are matured in demi-muid. Similarly, 2/3 of the best barrels have been a perpetual reserve for 3 generations. The wine is aged slowly in barrels and small vats, on the lees, foaming under cork and 36 months of cellaring on laths. Dosage is 6 g/l. The nose reveals notes of dried fruit, a touch of oak, chalk and limestone, while the palate is creamy and spicy, with a hint of baked apple. According to Antonio Galloni  "Reflet d'Antan is light, airy and graceful. Graphite, crushed stones, petroleum, smoke and licorice infuse this super-refined, polished champagne. Intensely mineral, chalky and savory, Reflet d'Antan is a model of total precision."

 

 

• Les Beaux regards :

This cuvée is a pure Blanc de Blancs with an intense, mineral mouthfeel. It is made from Chardonnay grapes from the Ludes terroir, a 1 er Cru with a chalky subsoil topped by a layer of sand and silt ensuring good drainage. This champagne is magnificent, with freshness and intensity. The vines are around forty years old, giving small yields but good concentration. The color is an intense gold, with creamy bubbles. The nose reveals notes of beeswax, pear and candied citrus fruit. This champagne is not dosed, and is clearly expressed during tasting.

 

• Campania Remensis :

This is a very fruity, crisp champagne rosé. The blend is composed of 60% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay and 10 % pinot meunier, to which a little Champagne red wine has been added in order to obtain a well-balanced rosé champagne. Aged for 36 months, the extra brut dosage of 3 g/l is pure champagne, revealing its intense fruity aromas. On the palate, it is full-bodied, deep and very pure, with fine tannins and a slight bitterness. It's a great rosé champagne and a fine tribute to Pinot Noir.

 

• Brut Réserve :

This champagne has quite a strong personality. It's a blend of three Champagne grape varieties: chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier in almost equal proportions. A great deal of room is left for reserve wines, which complement and enrich this cuvée. Its aromatic palette is astonishing and sometimes disconcerting. The nose is fresh, with hints of citrus and green apples. It is acidic, lively and pure. On the palate, it begins with a clean, fresh attack, then evolves on mineral and fruity notes. Round, elegant aromas of sweet spices and pastry. The dosage is low.

 

 

• 1er cru Le cran :

This is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay. The terroir is composed of limestone and chalk, giving the champagne freshness and minerality. This result is obtained after a slow fermentation lasting over 6 years. On the nose, notes of apricot, white flowers and chamomile give way to a great lightness. The bouquet evolves with citrus notes and a touch of minerality. This cuvée is both airy and gourmet. On the palate, the bubbles are fine, delicate and slightly acidic.

 

• Ambonnay champagne grand cru :

This cuvée is made from 100 % Pinot Noir grapes from the Reims mountains. The wine is aged for 54 months to develop its vinosity and fine bubbles. This champagne is one of the finest, windiest and greediest of all Bérêche cuvées. It has a very limited production, as only 1992 examples went on sale in the 2014 vintage. The nose gives off notes of roasted almonds, honey, butter cookie with a hint of red fruit. The palate is deep and sappy, with notes of dried fruit and tart berries.

We hope you enjoy this article. This lovely Champagne estate is available on our site. We have allocations from their chaix every year. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we'll get back to you as soon as possible! The Comptoir des Millésimes team.

> Find Bérêche Père et Fils champagnes at the best price