2023 Bérêche Et Fils Coteaux Champenois "Aÿ Blanc" Grand Cru, Champagne, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

This Coteaux Champenois Blanc is produced from fruit grown in the Grand Cru village of Aÿ, one of the most historically significant terroirs in Champagne. While Aÿ is traditionally celebrated for Pinot Noir in sparkling wines, this still white cuvée highlights a rarer interpretation of the vineyard’s potential, emphasizing precision, tension, and mineral expression.

The grapes are farmed with meticulous attention by Bérêche et Fils, a producer known for low-intervention, vineyard-focused viticulture. Harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, the fruit is gently pressed and fermented with native yeasts. Aging takes place in a combination of oak barrels, with careful lees contact to build texture while preserving clarity and tension. Oak influence is restrained, supporting structure rather than dominating the profile.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Bérêche et Fils is a highly regarded grower-producer in Champagne, based in the Vallée de la Marne and led by brothers Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche. The domaine is known for its precision farming, organic-leaning practices, and a philosophy that emphasizes site expression and traditional craftsmanship.

Across both Champagne and still wines like Coteaux Champenois, the estate focuses on low yields, hand harvesting, and minimal intervention in the cellar. Fermentations are typically native, and oak is used judiciously to enhance structure and complexity. Bérêche et Fils has become one of the benchmark producers for terroir-driven Champagne, and its still wines are especially prized for their rarity, tension, and clarity of expression.