GALAXY WINE COMPANY
Region/Appellation
BÉRÈCHE
et
FILS
FRANCE ›› CHAMPAGNE ›› MARNE ›› MONTAGNE DE REIMS ›› LUDES
Profile
From Peter Liem’s Champagneguide.net, “One of Champagne’s rising stars, the 26
year-old Raphaël Bérèche has been working alongside his father Jean-Pierre at their
nine-hectare estate of Bérèche et Fils since 2004, and today he is putting an increasingly
personal stamp on this thoughtfully-run domaine. The Bérèche estate owns vines in three
different sectors of Champagne: the area around Ludes and Craon de Ludes; the eastern
Montagne de Reims, around Trépail; and Mareuil-le-Port, on the left bank of the Vallée
de la Marne. The vineyards are planted with roughly equal parts of the three varieties, and
increasing attention is being paid to natural viticulture—Bérèche completely stopped using
chemical herbicides in 2004 and has planted cover crops in all of the vineyards, and since
2007 a portion of the vineyard is being converted to biodynamics. Recently the Bérèches
have begun to work more with cork for the second fermentation, believing that it results in
a wine of more character and complexity. Today, their perpetual cuvée, the Reflet d’Antan,
is bottled with cork for the second fermentation, as are the new cuvées of Instant and
Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche.”
Wines
Brut Réserve NV ›› This excellent non-vintage brut is composed of roughly equal parts
chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier. Its spicy depth is superb, enlivened by zesty acidity.
Extra Brut Réserve NV ›› Bérèche holds back a portion of the non-vintage blend for laterelease as an extra brut, and the current cuvée based on 2007 has no dosage.
Chardonnay Les Beaux Regards NV ›› This blanc de blancs cuvée combines chardonnay
from two different terroirs: two-thirds of it comes from Ludes, while one-third is from
vineyards around Mareuil-le-Port, in the Vallée de la Marne.
Reflet d’Antan NV ›› The most unusual wine in the cellar is the Reflet d’Antan, made
from a solera started in 1990, stored in 600-liter demi-muids and bottled with cork for the
second fermentation. Composed of equal parts of all three grapes, showing a burnished,
honeyed richness and depth.
Instant Le Cran 2004 ›› The Millesime offering of the house is composed of half
chardonnay and half pinot noir, all from Ludes. Stunning with only 2.5 grams dosage.
Brut Rosé NV ›› Based on the Brut Réserve and blended with red wine made from Ormes
pinot noir. The wine is aged in tank for an extra year before bottling with minimal dosage.
GALAXY WINE COMPANY 2755 NW 31st Avenue Portland, OR 97210 503.248.9493 TEL 503.248.9491 FAX