A. Bergère Les Clos Vallée du Petit Morin Champagne 2020

The Bergère family has tended vines on the slopes of the Vallée du Petit Morin since 1848. However, after the end of WW2, in 1949 - Albert Bergère founded Maison Bergère to promote the family's terroir better. In 1986, Albert's son, André, took over the estate and further expanded their vineyard holdings. His wife, Brigitte, established their boutique on Avenue de Champagne in Épernay after a lengthy renovation in 2007, which their daughter, Annaëlle, now manages.

Adrien Bergère joined his parents and sister on the estate in 2014 as the winemaker after obtaining his diploma in enology. He arrived with the desire to enhance his family's terroirs further and showcase the richness of the Vallée du Petit Morin. To achieve this, he immediately began to vinify all the parcels separately to better understand the diversity of his terroir and isolate the best parcels, which gave birth to the parcel-based range and the two Coteaux Champenois, in addition to the traditional range already established by his family. He introduced barrels and foudres, which allowed him to experiment and analyze his wines on different vinifications and adapt his work to best express his terroirs. Today, the Bergère family farms 45 hectares of vines in Champagne, with 35 hectares in the Vallée du Petit Morin, 5 hectares in the Côtes de Blancs, and 5 hectares in Sezanne.

Adrien's Les Clos is an extra brut 100% Pinot Meunier from the Fèrebrianges commune. The family planted the vineyard in 1970 on the region's sand and clay soils. Its age helps to restrain the vigor and produce smaller clusters of concentrated fruit. After harvest, the wine ferments partially in oak barrels and partially in stainless steel. Aging continues in the same vessels and on the lees to add texture in the mid-palate and is bottled unfiltered. Aromas of ripe and candied pears dominate the nose and lead into a finessed palate showcasing golden delicious apple and white strawberry. Fresh yet soft acidity keeps the finish lively as one savors the delicate, dancing bubbles.