Recoltant Manipulant in Champagne


Dhondt-Grellet
In 1986, Eric Dhondt and Edith Grellet created the Dhondt Grellet company now it is the son Adrien to continue the family experience.
They are located exactly south of Reims, in Flavigny near Avize, in the heart of the prestigious Côte des Blancs. Seven hectares of owned vineyards where tense and fibrillating minerals wines are produced. The vineyards are classified mainly between Grand Cru and Premier Cru, with an average age of 40 years old. 
The vine's work is meticulous and done very careful, aimed at respecting to the maximum balance of environment, nature, ecosystem, and biodiversity. In the cellar, they respect as much as possible the peculiarities of the raw material, every step is carried out under the highest quality standards.

Dhondt-Grellet Les Terres Fines 1er Cru
Champagne Les Terres Fines by Dhondt-Grellet is a Blanc de Blanc made from the homonymous parcel (Lieu-Dit) in Cuis, a Premier Cru village in the renowned Cote des Blancs. The Fruit is 70% of  2015 with 30% a perpetual* reserve wine started in 1986. No final dosage for this extra brut Champagne.
Fine and persistent perlage.
Light and bright golden yellow.
Fragrances of exotic fruit, banana, ripe citrus, and pear.
Refreshing, but at the same time with a velvety creaminess. Excellent minerality.

*The perpetual blending system is a method of storing the reserve wines of a Champagne house in a single cuvée, usually only one large barrel or tank. ... Over time, the cuvée becomes increasingly complex — the fresh wines of the latest vintage taking on the mature qualities of those that came before it.

Barbichon
The house Barbichon is located in Gyé-Sur-Seine, in the heart of the Côte des Bar, currently managed by the brothers Thomas and Maxime Barbichon who, after learning the trade of winemaker from their father Robert, converted to the principles of biodynamic agriculture, applying them in the family vineyards.
A small family business of Récoltant-Manipulant (rm), now in its a fourth generation, with 9 hectares of vineyards spread over clay-limestone soils of the Côte des Bar. The south-facing vineyards are mostly cultivated in Pinot Noir. However, we also find Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Arbanne and Pinot Meunier. Faithful to the principles of biodynamics, the Barbichon brothers raise vines with a marked environmental sensitivity, showing particular care for vines in the vineyard for over 30 years.
The ingredients that make Robert Barbichon's champagne unique are a passion, dedication to work and above all, immense respect for Nature.
Barbichon Extra Brut Reserve '4 Cepages'
The "4 Cepages" Champagne comes from the 3 typical Champagne grapes with the addition of Pinot Blanc, aged on the lees in bottle for 40 months. Floral and spicy aromas and a full, velvety and creamy taste make it very elegant and delicate.
Pinot Noir 70%, Pinot Blanc 10%, Chardonnay 10%, Pinot Meunier 10%
It is characterized by the verticality and dynamism of the sip. The aromatic outfit expressed by the four vines that contribute to its realization is in fact expressed with clarity and cleanliness, highlighting the excellent work done by the Barbichon brothers in every phase of winemaking. The biodynamic approach is an integral part of the success of this bottle, in which each varietal is expressed with its own characteristics in a set of harmonious aromas and flavors. The nose is based on fresh aromas in which the fruit imprint is evident, enriched on the finish with more floral references and spicy nuances. In the mouth it is full-bodied, round and enveloping on the palate thanks to a lively tension and great balance; closes with a citrus-flavored finish. A label that comes from the heart of the Côte des Bar.

Minière F&R
Fréderic and Rodolphe Minière are situated in the village of Hermonville, in 2005 they decided to take the reins of the family company and start to vinify their grapes and bottling champagne. Until then the grapes was sell to the "Negociants". 8 hectares of vineyard on a hill facing south with sandy and clayey soils with old vines that can reach the age of 65 years. All the wines are vinified in Barriques of various ages to enhance the different characteristics and after the "mise en bouteille" is 3/5 years, while the vintage ones for 6 years or more. They try to enhance the potential of the vineyard and work it with the utmost respect: they use organic soil improvers, working the land and grassing the plots. Against pests and diseases of the vineyard, choices are made in an ecologically way to best preserve the natural balance and biodiversity that is rare today.

MINIÈRE F&R "INFLUENCE" 
Grapes: 30% Pinot noir, 40% Meunier, 15% Chardonnay (15% Vins de réserve)
Golden yellow in color, the nose is powerful and delicious with aromas of dried apricot, mango, caramel, and salted butter.
Powerful, complex, the nose reveals its minerality.
Strong attack. Overall it denotes pastries notes.
Good length. Slightly woody wine. A very oyster shell minerality. 
Production Area: Hermonville - Montagne de Reims from the lieux-dits Les Fosselles, Les Couturelles and Les Fauvagnes 85% vintage 2008 with 15% vin de reserve 2007. Vinification and fermentation in Futs De Chene more than 7 years of complex refinement with a very long finish.
Voutte & Sorbee
The Domaine Vouette et Sorbée is managed by Bertrand Gautherot, Récoltant Manipulant in Buxières-Sur-Arce, in the Côte des Bar. The five hectares of the property rest on a soil that has characteristics very similar to those of the Chablis, made of Kimmeridgian marl. The vines are mainly cultivated with pinot noir and have an average age of 21 years. The land is entirely managed according to the criteria of organic farming and since 1998 the company has been certified Demeter biodynamic practice. The harvest is always manual and the vinification takes place in oak barrels with the indigenous yeasts of the same grapes. The disgorging of the champagne is finally carried out as in the past, "à la volée", and without any addition of dosage.
2015 Voutte & Sorbee Fidele
Champagne "Cuvée Fidèle" is a Blanc de Noirs made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes and aged for at least 36 months in bottle. Intoxicating, enveloping, fresh and complex, it is animated by notes of small red fruits, apple, vanilla and brioche. Intense and complex soul both on the nose and on the palate, thanks to its well-defined aromas and flavors. Straw yellow color, crossed by fine and creamy bubbles, with good persistence. The nose reveals a truly inviting bouquet, in which red fruit alternates with more typical sensations of yeasts, brioche, and pastry. In the mouth, it is full-bodied, rich, with a balanced taste from which emerges a fruity and floral taste, with a good freshness; with a finish of medium persistence. A highly crafted label, ideal for those who want to break away from the more resonant Champagne brands to approach a nice production of an excellent Récoltant-Manipulant.

Frank Pascal
Franck started working in his Domaine in 1994 on an area of ​​3.5 hectares owned by his parents; located south-west of Reims and west of Epernay and Ay. We are north of the Marne river, where Franck and Isabelle are currently managing a domain of 7.5 hectares. Around 1997-1998 Franck started practicing organic farming, in 2005 he switched to a type of agriculture called Bioenergetic, relations between the soil and the vineyard, with the management of energy fields; with a clear result on wines. Monsieur Pascal has a military engineer background. The company also follows the principles of biodynamics. The wines are expressions of terroir, the Champagne of Franck Pascal is left to ferment exclusively using indigenous yeasts, with a very small use of sulfur, and are neither racked and filtered. Champagne that offers a rare taste-olfactory intensity. 

2014 Franck Pascal Coteaux Champenois Rouge Confiance
70% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier on calcareous and chalky soils, grapes are hand-picked, after fermentation the wine aged 2 years in neutral old wood and steel containers. Vine age is 50 years. Production of only 1000 bottles a year, complex wine with red fruit aromas very savoury. kaleidoscopic continental climate minerality, of an extreme Chambolle elegance nuance.
The femininity of this wine makes you dance with a slight hint of oak through the nose. 





Bestraffaele mastrovincenzo
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