Sparkling Personality

In Castel Jeanson in Ay, Aurelien Laherte, Raphael Bereche and other young vignerons, staged an awesome display of where the new Champagne Vigneron is taking the 'new Champagne revival'.

Aurelien Laherte.

Raphael Bereche.

» Read more

Montgueux is a remarkable wine region – totally unique in its structural makeup. Classified as being in the ‘Cote des Bars’ region which can be often further colloquially known as the ‘Aube’ – but in fact it has little in common with that Pinot Noir producing area. Montgueux is a tiny hill of pure chalk 100kms south of Epernay-12 kms north west of Troyes. The eonologist Daniel Thibaut described Montgueux as ‘the Montrachet of the Champagne country’ with 186 hectares of vines planted to 85% Chardonnay with a perfect south easterly aspect. Topsoils with a depth of 1 metre and chalk to a depth of 60 metres. The chalk here has numerous outcrops of silex – adding to the spicy mineral complexities of the wines. The soils here are 13 million years old–very much older than the Grand Cru Cote des Blancs. All of these elements combined allow for perfect ripening with appropriate levels of moisture in the chalky soils. More than 50% of the grapes are sold to the likes of Charles Heidsieck, Piper Heidsieck, Louis Roederer, Nicolas Feuillate and other large and small growers. The big houses are happy to pay high prices for Montgueux grapes. Certainly one of the biggest secrets in all of Champagne.

» Read more

The son and father team - Michael and Bill Dhillon - have 6 hectares of vines in quartz - volcanic soil with superb aspect and excellent drainage on the gentle slopes of Mount Gisborne - 50km north of Melbourne.




The mineral soils vary from pure volcanic at the bottom of the slope to heavily laden quartz higher up the slopes. In patches where the quartz is solid and the top soil is thin - the vines undergo a fair amount of stress in their search for nutrient.

» Read more