Andre Jacquart

The house of Champagne André Jacquart is based in Vertus, in the south of the Côte des Blancs. André Jacquart founded it in 1958 and bottled his first champagne under his own name in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Before that, his family had spent generations simply growing grapes. The estate has been based in Vertus since 2004, after a long time in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Family and vineyards

Since 2004 the house has been run by Marie Doyard, the founder's granddaughter. Her brother Benoît works in the business too. The family counts Marie as the fifth generation, although some sources say the fourth. Her great-grandfather Maurice Doyard was involved in setting up the Comité Champagne, the CIVC. Marie brought together the vineyards from both sides of the family: her mother's in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, her father's in Vertus. Today the house farms around 24 hectares in more than 200 parcels. The focus is on the grand cru of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and the premier cru of Vertus. According to retailers, smaller plots lie in the Aube and the Aisne. Chardonnay clearly dominates. The pinot noir for the rosé comes from a parcel of about two hectares in Vertus. In 2019 the estate gained HVE 3 certification for sustainable viticulture.

Style in the cellar

The house names four hallmarks: vinification in oak barrels, long ageing in the cellar, low dosage and no malolactic fermentation. For the barrels it uses used Burgundy oak. All the champagnes are extra brut or brut nature, and the range consists almost entirely of blanc de blancs. The house describes the wines as fresh, fine and mineral. Annual production is 90,000 to 100,000 bottles, depending on the source.

“André Jacquart founded it in 1958 and bottled his first champagne under his own name in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Cuvées and visiting

• Vertus Expérience (extra brut): blanc de blancs from Vertus
• Mesnil Expérience (extra brut and brut nature): grand cru, 100 per cent chardonnay
• Millésime Expérience (extra brut): the house's vintage champagne
• Rosé Expérience (extra brut): rosé de saignée, about 80 per cent pinot noir from Vertus and 20 per cent chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

Marie Doyard looks after visitors to the estate herself, as well as customer contacts and export. The estate is at 63 Avenue de Bammental in Vertus. It is best to arrange a visit with the house in advance.