Deep Dive Series: Champagne Tasting with Guillaume Doyard & Guillaume Hébrart - October 21st - Sandy Springs

Marc Hebrart:

Jean-Paul Hébrart took over Marc Hébrart from his father in 1997. His father had been producing estate bottled wines since 1964 and joined the Club Trésors in 1985 Jean-Paul has slowly developed the estate in the last 20 years to one of the very finest grower estates in the Marne. The basis for these outstanding wines are the privileged holdings in Aÿ, including the newly purchased plots in Le Léon, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, and Dizy in the Grande Vallée as well as Avize, Oiry and Chouilly in the Côte and recently acquired vineyards in Louvois in the Montagne. Jean-Paul harvests, presses and vinifies each of his over 85 plots separately, blending sites to make harmonious wines which reflect the personality of the grower as well as the terroir. A majority of the wines are fermented in steel, though old used barrels have become a part of his program for Rive Gauche-Rive Droite and his new wine, Clos de Léon, both of which are fermented and aged in neutral barrique.

The Hébrart wines are truly of both place and person, the kind, welcoming and generous qualities that Jean-Paul Hébrart exudes can be seen in all of his Champagnes. And while he could easily rest on his laurels at this point, JP instead continues to expand his range, experimenting with lower dosage levels in his benchmark cuvées, and producing stunning Coteaux Champenoise from recently acquired, historic vineyards.

Doyard: 

Champagne Doyard is a highly regarded grower-producer based in Vertus, in the Côte des Blancs, with family roots in Champagne dating back to the 17th century. Today, the estate is led by Guillaume Doyard, whose thoughtful stewardship has elevated the domaine's reputation for producing terroir-focused Champagnes of exceptional precision and elegance.

The estate farms a collection of Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards using sustainable and environmentally conscious practices, emphasizing healthy soils, low yields, and meticulous vineyard work. In the cellar, Doyard favors native yeast fermentations, restrained use of oak, extended lees aging, and low dosage, allowing each cuvée to faithfully express its vineyard origin and vintage character.

Known for crafting wines of remarkable purity, energy, and mineral definition, Champagne Doyard has become one of the region's most respected artisanal producers. The Œil de Perdrix Grand Cru Extra Brut beautifully exemplifies the house philosophy, combining the elegance of traditional grower Champagne with the depth and individuality of one of Champagne's finest terroirs.