Bérêche - the name is no stranger. In fact, Raphael Bérêche - winemaker at the famous Domaine Bérêche et Fils - is the husband of Pauline Collin-Bérêche. Pauline also comes from a family of winegrowers: her father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all presidents of the cooperative in the village of Ludes in Montagne de Reims, and her mother's side of the family owns a vine nursery.
Collin-Bérêche is still based in the premier cru village of Ludes today. But Pauline is daring to step out of the shadow of her forefathers: in 2016, she started making her own champagne from the vines, which are mainly located in Ludes, but also on the Aube. From the very beginning, her vision was to bottle champagnes from a single vintage in order to bring out the respective expression and thus gradually build up a vintage library.
For spontaneous fermentation and ageing, she exclusively uses used 450-litre barrels from Vincent Girardin in Meursault. Currently, only a single cuvée is produced each year. However, it is quite possible that in future she will also start bottling single-vineyard wines like Raphael Bérêche.
One speciality is the use of a small proportion of Petit Meslier - a grape variety that often did not ripen in the past, but now provides firmness and freshness. The result is an unusual but complex style, marvellously balanced between a strong acidity and profound ripeness.
Facts: R.C., Ludes, Montagne de Reims, 6ha
Content: 0.75 Liter (€92.00* / 1 Liter)