Brocard Pierre
Côte des Bar, Champagne
National
Fifth generation vigneron Thibaud Brocard’s handcrafted, terroir-focused wines are transparent and electrifying. His wines channel Champagne’s Côte des Bar in an effortless display of youth and freshness. His family vineyards, situated near the village of Celles-sur-Ource in the Seine River valley, are part of a geographically, biologically, and culturally diverse region. The gastronomic vintage Champagnes, made from single-grape varieties and parcels, form the basis for Thibaud’s philosophy.
Thibaud’s great grandfather, Georges Brocard, began producing Champagne in 1932. He was followed by Emile Brocard, Henri Brocard, then Pierre Brocard, Thibaud’s father. In 2012, Thibaud took over the family estate under his father’s watchful eye. Today, he endeavours to practice a sustainable and responsible viticulture, with next generations and the Earth’s future at its core. He does so under no eco-friendly label or charter.
In the cellar, he uses a blend of new and old methods to create terroir reflective wines. They’re practically etched into clay and limestone Kimmeridgien soils, which impart longevity and personality to the Pinot Noir, as well as minerality and vivacity to the Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. The traditional Coquard press ensures a slow and homogenous press to minimise colour extraction and ensure that the most delicate fruit flavours are expressed.
Thibaud works non-oxidatively, using nitrogen in the winery to protect his tanks and precious reserve wines, which reduces the need for SO2 considerably while preserving fruit and vineyard expression. This practice is worth a mention, as it is a tool that helps him produce delicious wines without faults or defects, made for maximum enjoyment.
His Champagnes have very little-to-no SO2 added, with an average of total 18-32 mg/l, depending on vintage and what the native yeasts are able to achieve. Champagne Brocard Pierre is unfiltered and bottled without cold stabilization, using bentonite for a gentle fining.
Finally, Thibaud favours long-aging on the lees in bottle (3 to 5 years), as well as an average of 9 months of post-disgorgement aging in bottle to allow the wines enough time to integrate before release.
NV Champagne ‘Saignée de la Côte’ Extra Brut
Thibaud was not originally interested in making rosé. So, this is as natural and elementary a rosé he’s created, the kind that drinks like a red wine, with bubbles. His rosé Saignée de la Côte was born from one of the boldest wines of the region - blurring the lines between red Côteaux Champenois and Champagne in an inimitable manner.
Winemaking
This rosé de saignée is 100% Pinot Noir grapes harvested in 2014 from vineyards planted on clay-calcareous soil near Celles-sur-Ource. Once bled off the crushed grapes, the pink-hued juice was fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperature. The wine then spent 4 months in oak barrels before it was aged on lees for at least 3 years. It has 2g/l of dosage.
Tasting Notes
This rosé Champagne has a deep pink orange and bright ruby rim. The nose opens with an explosion of red berry fruit characters - strawberry, raspberry, cassis, then hints of violets, white pepper, and cinnamon. The palate is well structured yet not tannic; it has great body, colour, and flavour intensity – again, red berry fruit making up the core and sweet vanilla spice and fresh liquorice lingering on the finish.
2021 Coteaux Champenois Rouge
The 2021 Coteaux Champenois Rouge is a return to the traditional expression of still red wine from Champagne: light on its feet, fresh, finely textured and driven by purity of fruit. Sourced exclusively from the south-facing La Martinée parcel near Celles-sur-Ource in the Côte des Bar, it captures the elegant, digestible character sought by the producer, with bright fruit and a distinctly graceful structure.
Winemaking
100% Pinot Noir exclusively from the La Martinée parcel, the grapes undergo a nine-day maceration with whole bunches in cement vats. The wine is aged for approximately 12 months in 300-litre oak barrels before bottling, allowing the fruit and freshness to remain at the forefront while gaining subtle texture and complexity.
Tasting Notes
As vibrant as it is delicate. Red berries, wild strawberry and cherry are complemented by subtle floral and earth notes. Light and beautifully fresh, fine tannins, crisp acidity and pure, crunchy fruit. Elegant and effortlessly drinkable, a refined expression of Pinot Noir that finishes bright, savoury and refreshing.