From: Èpernay, Champagne, France
Varietal: Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: This Champagne showcases a brilliant, clear appearance with distinct bubbles that dance gracefully in the glass. The nose reveals notes of green apple, white peach, and ripe citrus tones of baked lemon, complemented by a delicate floral quality of white flowers. Hints of dried tropical fruit add complexity to the aromatic profile. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with a taut, vibrant acidity that brings a refreshing tangy finish. Integrated minerality, with saline and flint notes, adds depth while being elegant and has subtle hints of almond and toast from barrel aging. This Champagne is well- balanced and concentrated.
Pairing: This will pair beautifully with seafood such as crab cakes and poached salmon, enhancing their natural sweetness and freshness. Pair with a fresh arugula and pear salad with walnuts and blue cheese. The wine’s tangy finish and subtle finish make it a match for roasted duck breast and truffle risotto, adding depth and richness to these
savory dishes. For a lighter option, pair it with prosciutto-wrapped melon, highlighting the Champagne’s refreshing qualities. Additionally, the Champagne’s integrated minerality and vibrant acidity cut through the richness of fried chicken, creating a satisfying pairing.
Crab and Asparagus Tart
By Florence Fabricant
About. It was a rare opportunity to meet the young Adrien Bergère, whose family domaine has one foot in the under-announced territory of Fèrebrianges, with its diverse soils, just 15 minutes south of Épernay, and one in the epicenter of Grand Cru terroir, with a core of enough quantity and variation in vines to showcase an entirely new message.
Adrien Bergère did not suddenly appear with vines and a cellar. He is the next generation of a family that built their sizable estate as farmers in the heart of the Vallée du Petit Morin. At full scale, the family now works 45 hectares. It is here where Adrien calls home and admits having so much great terroir at his disposal at such a young age is a true gift. Barrels and foudre have outnumbered the steel tanks. A solera project has kicked off. And Adrien has a line of Parcellaire wines in the stacks, the first look into his personal findings from his terroir.
The Bergère family has tended vines on the slopes of the Vallée du Petit Morin since 1848, and in 1949, Albert Bergère founded Maison Bergère to better promote the family’s terroir. In 1986, Albert’s son, André, took over the estate and further expanded their vineyard holdings. His wife, Brigitte, established their boutique on Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, which is now managed by their daughter, Annaëlle.
Adrien Bergère joined his parents and sister on the estate in 2014 as winemaker after obtaining his diploma in oenology. He arrived with the desire to further enhance his family’s terroirs and showcase the richness of the Vallée du Petit Morin. To achieve this, he immediately began to vinify all the parcels separately to better understand the diversity of his terroir and isolate the best parcels, which gave birth to the parcel-based range and the two Coteaux Champenois, in addition to the traditional range already established by his family. Between 2014 and 2018, Adrien experimented. He introduced barrels and foudres, which allowed him to analyze his wines on different vinifications and adapt his work to best express his terroirs.
The entire estate aspires to full organic conversion, with 6 hectares currently certified and another 2 in conversion. But Bergère will not include this on the label until the majority of their vines have been certified. With so many hectares under vine, it’s a huge undertaking, and they are moving towards it slowly and deliberately, vowing to work in the best way possible.
Champagne A. Bergère has not seen international exportation until very recently, and is an exceptional example of what Grower Champagne truly can be.
This cuvée is composed of 100% Chardonnay, sourced from the villages of Fèrebrianges, Etoges, Congy, Sézanne, and the Vallée du Petit Morin. The vineyards are characterized by limestone soils, contributing to the wine's distinct minerality and complexity. The wine is finished with a dosage of 0g/L, emphasizing its pure and unadulterated expression of terroir.
