What?
Juice NV Bérêche & Fils, Brut Réserve, Ludes, Champagne, FRA
Grape 35% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Meunier, 30 % Pinot Noir
Farming Practising Organic
Tasting Note The nose is characterised by complex toasty, bready, aromas, with an opulent combination of ripe lemon, dried fruits and almond. The palate is rich yet refined and develops into lemon curd, white fruit and enticing toast and brioche nuances. There is perfect balance of freshness and opulence.
Who?
The Domaine has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of brothers Vincent and Raphaël Bérêche, who’ve been working alongside their parents Catherine and Jean-Pierre since 2004. Located in Ludes where a good portion of their 11ha are found, they also own a clutch of well-placed vineyards in and around Ormes (Petite Montagne) and Mareuil-le-Port (Vallée de la Marne), as well as isolated parcels in Trépail, Rilly-la-Montagne, and Chigny-les-Roses. To complete the picture, they recently added small plots in the grand crus of Mailly, Ambonnay and Aÿ, taking the domaine into a different league altogether. The brothers currently produce nine champagnes and one still Coteaux Champenois from over 20 parcels of vines averaging a high 40yo.
Why?
We just love grower champagne in general and Raphaël is one of the most passionate ambassadors for the movement, a fervent believer that joining forces with other like-minded Champagne growers generates a more powerful message and much more interest. Raphaël’s effervescent personality and driving, relentless energy, and the brothers’ attention to the smallest details is producing stunning results.
With?
Due to its complexity, opulence and elegance this delightful tipple lends itself to a variety of pairings. We said it before and we will say it again, one of our favourite champagne pairings is fried foods, in particular Fried Chicken. The savoury flavours match with the same elements displayed in the Champagne whilst its freshness helps to offset the fattiness of the dish. A variety of hard salty cheeses would work wonderfully too though our pick would be seriously aged Parmesan with the effervescence working its way into the little nooks and cracks of the flaky cheese to create a textural pairing of orgasmic proportions.
