Domaine de Bichery, Neuville-sür-Seine
This adventure started when Rapahaël Picconet took over a part of his family Domaine in 2013. This had been his dream for quite a while, so he was ready, educated oenologist and all.
But he needed some help, so he dived into this together with his wife Hannah, and side by side they select the best grapes to capture the terroirs that they have. Their first vintage is 2015, this was the year when they had their small vinery ready and extremely good grape quality, so they decided to give it a go.
The vineyards is spread out over two villages, Neuville sur Seine and Gyé sur Seine, in Côte des Bar, southern parts of Champagne. The wines are made of ripe, carefully selected grapes with low yields (in relation to the region). They don’t blend vintages or terroirs, making each cuvée reflect the one vintage and parcel it springs from.
The wines are intense in both fruit, mineral, creamyness with a very fresh finish and fine bubbles.
2019 La Source Extra Brut
Soil: Portlandian limestone.
Grape: 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Champagne
Age of Vines: Planted 1985
Vinification: Direct press before fermenting and ageing in 40% old oak barrels and 60% stainless steel tanks before bottling. Natural malolactic fermentation and aged on the lees until bottling.
Disgorged in March 2022. No filtration, fining and natural chilling during winter. Zero dosage.
2019 Terres Mêlées Brut Nature
Soil: Portlandian limestone.
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: AOC Champagne
Age of Vines: 30 years
Vinification: Pinot from the parcels Les Mees and Val Ligé. Fermenting and ageing in 40% old oak barrels and 60% stainless steel tanks. Natural malolactic fermentation and aged on the lees until bottling. Disgorged in March 2022. No filtration, fining and natural chilling during winter. Zero dosage.
2019 En Charme de Fin Brut Nature
Soil: Portlandian limestone.
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Champagne
Age of Vines: 30 years
Vinification: Chardonnay from the parcel Charmes de Fin. Feermenting and ageing in 40% old oak barrels and 60% stainless steel tanks. Natural malolactic fermentation and aged on the lees until bottling. Disgorged in March 2022. No filtration, fining and natural chilling during winter. Zero dosage.
2019 Les Fontaines Brut Nature (Rosé)
Soil: Portlandian limestone with a high proportion of chalk
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: AOC Champagne
Age of Vines: 35 years
Vinification: A blend of 15% of Pinot Noir vinified as red wine, 85% of Pinot Noir as a Blanc de Noir. The grapes with which the red wine is produced for this blending are harvested around 2 weeks after finishing the regular harvest, with the aim to obtain an even higher maturity. 40% of the wines ages in old oak, 60% in stainless steel. Aged on the lees until bottling and then disgorged in March 2022. No filtration, fining and natural chilling during winter. Zero dosage.
2017 À L’Envers Brut Nature
Soil: Portlandian limestone with a high proportion of chalk
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: AOC Champagne
Age of Vines: 35 years
Vinification: Single plot. Direct press before fermenting and ageing in 40% old oak barrels and 60% stainless steel tanks before bottling. Aged on the lees until bottling and then disgorged in March 2021. No filtration, fining and natural chilling during winter. Zero dosage.
2017 Désir Noir Brut Nature
Soil: Portlandian limestone with a high proportion of chalk
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: AOC Champagne
Age of Vines: 35 years
Vinification: Single plot. Direct press before natural fermentation, 75% in oak barrels and 25% in stainless steel tanks. Aged on the lees until bottling and then disgorged in March 2021.
No filtration, fining and natural chilling during winter. Zero dosage.