Camille Saves

The Savès family has lived in the heart of Bouzy since 1894, as surviving registers show. The house was founded by Eugène Savès, an agricultural engineer who settled in Bouzy. He began after his marriage to Anaïs Jolicoeur, the daughter of a local grower. According to Peter Liem, Eugène started bottling his own champagne in 1910. He was followed by Louis and Camille, after whom the house is named. The fourth generation is represented by Hervé Savès, who took over from his father Camille in 1982. His son Arthur joined in 2012.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The estate farms around ten hectares of vines with an average age of 35 years. Other sources give nine to eleven hectares. The sites are Grand Cru (Bouzy, Ambonnay and Tours-sur-Marne) or Premier Cru (Tauxières). Peter Liem breaks the holdings down as follows: six hectares in Bouzy, two in Ambonnay, one in Tours-sur-Marne and one in Tauxières. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown on south-facing slopes with a high proportion of chalk in the soil. In the vineyard, the family avoids herbicides and insecticides.

“The Savès family has lived in the heart of Bouzy since 1894, as surviving registers show.

The wines

According to Liem, all the champagnes come from pure Bouzy Grand Cru. The exception is the Carte Blanche, which is blended from parcels in four villages. The base wines are vinified in enamel-lined tanks. Only the Bouzy Rouge and the Cuvée Anaïs are aged in oak. The Cuvée Anaïs commemorates Hervé's great-grandmother. According to Hachette, it is 90 per cent Pinot Noir with a little Chardonnay, spends eight months in oak barrels and does not go through malolactic fermentation. The rosé is a cuvée in its own right, in which Chardonnay usually makes up more than half. To this is added twelve per cent still Pinot Noir. The range also includes a still red Bouzy made from Pinot Noir. Before release, the bottles rest for a long time in deep limestone cellars.

Jahrgänge: Beschreibung aller Champagner Jahrgänge seit 1815

Visiting and tasting

The house is at 4 Rue de Condé in Bouzy. According to the Vignerons Indépendants, visits are possible by prior appointment, including for groups of up to 20 people. Visits are also offered in English, and the estate is closed in August. Arrange a time by telephone on 03 26 57 00 33 or by email. Hachette puts the export share at around 70 per cent. It is therefore worth asking on site about the cuvées, which can be hard to find outside France.