It is our opinion at Dhall & Nash that Champagne is not just for special occasions… It’s undoubtedly perfect for them, but not exclusively so.
Champagne is a fine wine, with complexities, nuance and evolution that often calls for far more measured sipping than it’s sometimes afforded.
Well, the Champagne we like to drink, anyway…
While fizzy fountains of revelry and joy never cease to warm our hearts, there will always be the other bottles. With generations behind them, savoir-faire and parcels passed down through the family lines. These wines will never have their names adorn restaurant umbrellas or line the shelves top to bottom.
These are the rarer bottles, the handmade grower Champagnes, the very definition of Boutique.
It’s no secret we love sniffing out these hidden gems – Clouet, Egly and Larmandier are all pride-of-place additions to our portfolio, so it brings us immense pleasure to introduce the newest name in our carefully curated champagne stable – Champagne A. Bergère.
Bergère through History
There are two critical dates in Bergère’s history, both cited as their ‘beginning’ depending on how one prefers to measure such things.
1848 is the earliest documented date they have confirming that the Bergère family owned vineyards in Champagne.
1949 marks the creation of the A. Bergère brand by Albert Bergère, when the family began producing and commercialising Champagne under its own name.
So, in short: the family’s roots as winegrowers can be traced back to 1848, while Champagne A. Bergère as a brand was founded in 1949.
In the 80s, his son André took over the estate. He acquired more vineyard plots in the Vallée du Petit Morin, in his family’s home commune and the villages of Étoges and Congy. Later, he acquired vineyard plots in the Côte des Blancs and Sézannais areas, expanding the domaine’s Chardonnay terroirs. In 2007, his wife Brigitte purchased the guest house on the famous Avenue de Champagne in Epernay and opened the boutique after two years of restoration work.
Annaëlle Bergère joined her parents in 2009, taking over the management of the Epernay establishment and was soon joined in 2014 by her brother Adrien, who took on the winemaking responsibilities of the estate.
Who is ‘A.’ Bergère?
Armand, Albert and André…. Who doesn’t love a theme?
The Bergère’s are a sort of way more artisanal Kardashian clan. Every name (bar those who’ve married in,) are given ‘A’ names.
The first ‘A’ was Armand, who initially tended the vineyards in the 19th century. Then Albert, who made the leap from winegrower to champagne producer, officially establishing Champagne A. Bergère. His son, André was the next A in line, who has now handed the reins to his son and daughter, Adrien and Annaëlle.
The Current Guard
“Adrien Bergere’s meticulous respect for nature defines the authenticity of his champagnes.”
Berne Wine
Adrien is currently at the helm of winemaking, alongside his sister who takes care of management.
Adrien is a trained oenologist, and his first harvest at the domaine in 2014 was a reference point: Adrien tasted and vinified the grape juices from the most promising plots one by one. He developed a deep passion for the terroir and its essence and he sought to honour this in each wine he produced.
Convinced of the benefits of aging in wood, he acquired the domaine’s first barrels.
Individual plot vinification went on to become an integral part of the domaine’s winemaking approach, giving it a new lease on life.
“Adrien looks to produce wines rippling with energy and tension that express the place in which they are grown… Adrien prefers to release the wines when they are tensile, fresh and moreish and always finishes his wines with minimal or zero dosage. These terroir driven elixirs are only going to get better as Adrien and the team continue to understand their terroir more and more as the years go on and Adrien is no doubt one of the brightest rising stars in the region.”
– CellarHand
The Estate
You know a winery is extremely terroir and plot driven when their entry-level wine label is covered in map graphics.
The domaine owns 45 hectares total. 35 of these are located in the Vallée du Petit Morin, in the communes of Fèrebrianges, Étoges and Congy. The clay with millstone grit soils of this terroir are particularly suited to the Chardonnay grape, while the flinty clay soils are ideal for the Pinot Noir.
The remaining 10 hectares are equally divided across the villages of Sézanne and Bethon in the Sézannais area, and the Côte des Blancs, on the terroirs of Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly, Cramant and Oger.
Almost 12 hectares of the vineyards are organically grown, currently.
Within these 45 hectares, the family has identified and noted 139 individual plots that are planted to 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir and 10% Meunier and vinified separately ahead of blending.
Winemaking
At harvest time, Bergère’s grape pressing process is very carefully handled: the grapes are harvested at a median maturity of 11°C. The must is left to settle by gravity at 16°C. Fermentation can be spontaneous or assisted by yeasts selected from their own vineyards and is followed by malolactic fermentation.
After ageing in stainless steel vats, oak barrels or foudres, the wines are left to rest on their lees for as long as possible.
In May, when it is time to create the blends, Adrien blind-tastes each of the wines, plot by plot. Blending is carried out without refrigeration, fining or filtration before the secondary fermentation.
This know-how, fed by our passion for wine and the terroir, is the hallmark of our fine Champagne wines.
The Wines
“One of the joys of blind tasting for Decanter is that sometimes – not perhaps as often as you’d think, but sometimes – wines I’ve never even heard of come out with very high scores. Such was the case two years ago when a producer that was somewhere on the extremities of my radar, A Bergère, almost topped a blind tasting of around 80 blanc de blancs…”
Tom Hewson
We’re bringing in two signature cuvées that will be available consistently, and five different millesime, or vintage wines available while stocks last only.
Champagne A Bergère
Origine Brut AOC Vallée du Petit Morin NV
- 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 10% Meunier
- Vallée du Petit Morin – Fèrebrianges, Étoges, Congy
- 4 g/L dosage
Radiant hue with fine bubbles. On the olfactory, aromas of white fruits such as nectarine and white vine peach emerge. On the palate, the texture is both structured and creamy, with a refreshing finish.
“This is THE cuvée for beginners. Fresh, fruity and lively on the palate, this non-vintage brut champagne can be enjoyed as an aperitif or with a seafood platter. Made predominantly from Chardonnay, it reveals notes of white peach, a hint of nectarine… in short, this is a champagne that puts a smile on your face.”
Julie Espirac-Noyelle for Envie-de-Champagne
“The wine is a beautiful example of a chardonnay dominant, brioche filled style, yet still finishes crisp and dry. I loved this on its own as an aperitif!”
Gary Westby
Champagne A Bergère
Solera Blanc de Blancs Brut AOC Vallée du Petit Morin NV
- 100% Chardonnay. Base 2021 and 50% of ‘perpetual reserve’ from 2013 to 2020
- Vallée du Petit Morin – Fèrebrianges, Étoges, Congy
- The vinification and aging on lees are carried out partially in 228-liter barrels
- Dosage 3g/L
Bright golden hue. On the nose, a gourmet generosity emerges, embellished with floral notes. On the palate, a creamy texture reveals an elegant structure accompanied by nuances of white fruits such as nectarine and white vine peach.
“Pale straw robe with golden highlights, fine and persistent bubbles. On the nose, a highly expressive bouquet of pineapple, ripe citrus and white peach, lifted by gentle autolytic notes of brioche and hazelnut. On the palate, a generous surge of fruit opens the attack, before chalk dust takes over.”
Pepits de Champagne, 93 Points
“The nose is floral, but not overpowering; it unfolds gradually with notes of linden blossom, acacia, then yellow fruits, candied lemon, pine, and white pepper. It’s complex. The palate is smooth with a woody, toasty character, yet retains freshness with orange blossom and a refreshing touch of menthol. A lovely texture and a finish of dried fruit and forest floor. A beautiful brightness in this champagne that invites a second glass.”
Gault & Millau, 92 Points
Vintage Cuvées Available:
We’ve successfully secured a small parcel of Champagne Bergère’s Vintage Cuvées. Available on allocation only, please contact your account manager or email us at orders@dnfinewine.com to learn more about these collectable delights!
- 2019 Champagne A Bergère Les Clos Blanc de Blancs AOC Ferebrianges
- 2019 Champagne A Bergère Les Peignottes Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs AOC Oger
- 2019 Champagne A Bergère Les Vignes de Nuit Blanc de Blancs AOC Etoges
- 2022 A Bergère Coteaux Campenois Rouge Pinot noir de Ferebrianges AOC Vallée du Petit Morin
- 2022 A Bergère Coteaux Champenois Blanc Chardonnay de Ferebrianges AOC Vallée du Petit Morin
