rating A
standout classical champagne
about Jean-Paul Hébrart took over his father's winery in 1997—his father had been making champagne since 1964. He has maintained many of the traditional practices, with winemaking in a combination of stainless steel and ceramic tanks, although Jean-Paul is also experimenting with barrel fermentation and indigenous yeasts. Overall, the wines are elegant, refined, serious, yet extremely drinkable. Special Club vintages also produced. Lack of a website not helpful.
wines tasted
"Sélection" Premier Cru Brut NV ($65)
A Pinot Noir dominant blend, the wines comes from old vines and sélection massale—a method of planting new vines from cuttings of the best established vines. It's based on the 2017 vintage, with reserve wines from 2016 and 2015—think of this as multi-vintage rather than non-vintage. It spends 24 months in contact with the lees in the bottle after the second fermentation.
“Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes” Premier Cru Brut NV ($80)
80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay, from two successive vintages. Fruit comes from Jean-Paul Hébrart’s favourite sites in Mareuil which have been developed through malolactic fermentation. Two and a half years on the lees, with 5g/l dosage. A wine with slightly more depth and weight than “Sélection.”
“Clos le Léon” Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut 2016 ($250)
100% Chardonnay from a chalky steep site in Diy, a Premier Cru village. Fermented and aged in barrel, with no malolactic fermentation. Six years on the lees, with 3g/l dosage. An expectional wine a balance of power and finesse, and long ageing capacity.
website https://www.skurnik.com/producer/champagne-marc-hebrart/
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