Jean Baptiste et Claire Denizart

Champagne André Robert

Region :
Champagne
APPELLATION :
Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

Anecdotes about the domain

The philosophy of the domain is based on an alchemy between our wine making and our terroir. We also have the culture of the Terroir for the selection of the wood for our barrels! We test the marriage of the two through these "wine and oak species" meetings. Recently, we acquired ten barrels from the forest of Mesnil sur Oger, the typicality of the grains of these oaks will allow a slow oxygenation but a little more important than normal. Ten other barrels from the Argonne forest with very fine grapes will soon join us and with them very silky tannins, and typical aromas of this terroir, brioche bread, vanilla, and roasted coffee!

The domain's short story

The estate has been in the same family for five generations. My ancestor, Henri, started working the vineyard "en foule" just after the first world war. After the second war, André Robert worked the vineyard with the horse as a companion and tool. In 1960, he bought the house which has these marvellous 19th century chalk cellars where our bottles are now kept. As a family, we have chosen to perpetuate this family tradition, and therefore not to change anything! We vinify 50% of our wines in these small 228-liter barrels that are on average a dozen years old. The bottling is late (July), because the wines are previously aged on lees, for 8 months, and stirred regularly. The creation of our wines is based on the permanent search for a subtle balance between a very chalky soil which brings freshness, finesse and minerality.

The winemaker's pride

Our estate is spread over 14 hectares, most of which are classified as Grand Cru and Premier Cru, mainly in Mesnil sur Oger, Oger, Vertus and Cuis. Our stronghold, Le Mesnil sur Oger, located south east of Epernay, owes the richness of its terroir to a mosaic of tiny plots where the Chardonnay perfectly expresses its personality. We cultivate our vines with simple methods: low amendment, reasoned intervention, soil work, and reasonable yield. The poor soil which characterizes it - an omnipresent chalk as well as a culture in hillside - make the soil of Mesnil Sur Oger an exceptional and unique soil in Champagne. It brings finesse and minerality to our wines. The Chardonnay grape variety is therefore the soul of our House and the main thread of all our blends.