Bertrand-Delespierre, Les Fourneaux, Champagne 2017

The Bertrand and Delespierre families have been making wine in the Montagne de Reims for generations, where Chantal Bertrand and Didier Delespierre founded their ten hectare domaine in 1980. Located in Chamery, right between Reims and Epernay, their vines are spread across four Premier Cru villages: Chamery, Ecueil, Villedommange, and Montbré. Their children, brother and sister team Adrien and Clémence, have begun taking over the domaine as they are lowering dosage levels, increasing the importance of organic work in the vines, and focusing in on showcasing the unique micro-terroirs of each of the four villages. Adrien stressed to us during our visit that farming without the use of herbicides and pesticides, meticulous work in the vines and in the cellar, and the balance of oak and tank usage during alcoholic fermentation and élevage have always been important philosophies of his parents; he and his sister will not only respect the philosophies implemented by their parents, but will take the domaine one step further as it is passed on to the next generation.

*Les Fourneaux, wine from 2017, 100% Chardonnay planted in 1989. Aged on the cork for 5 years, 2g/L dosage*