Labbé et Fils Parthena Chamery Champagne 2018

Production is relatively new to Labbé et Fils, as the family only began making wine from their vineyard plots in the early 1970s. Previous generations farmed their small plot and sold the grapes to the highest bidder. As the region transitioned from crop farming to primarily grape growing, and the business grew, the family acquired additional plots, bringing their total spread to 10 hectares across four villages. Great-grandfather Maurice helped found the local co-op, Cooperative Regional Wines of Champagne, and his daughter, Jeanine, married Michel Labbé, who helped to form Champagne Labbé.

Like most family businesses, each generation from Maurice to Didier to current proprietors, Damien and Jérôme, has made its mark on Labbé et Fils and pushed it into the next chapter. As the family legend goes, Michel and Jeanine’s son Didier is responsible for sneaking the first press into the family cellar, outside the skeptical eye of his grandfather. Michel and Didier honed their winemaking practices and established the brand as a consistent producer of clean, precise wines. When the time came for Damien and Jérôme to take the reins, they turned back to the vineyards with investments in converting their 10 hectares to organic practices. They have eliminated the use of herbicides and introduced cover crops to replenish the soils below.

Chamery is home to their winery, cellar, and two vineyards, which provide the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for Parthena. The two soil types, clay and sand, bring intensity to the palate and powerful aromatics. In 2018, the Parthena blend comprised 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, fermented as single plots in barrels. After four years of aging on the lees, the Champagne was released with zero dosage.