Charbaux Freres

Charbaux Frères is a family estate in Congy, a small village in the Marne, 30 km south of Épernay. The village lies north of the Marais de Saint-Gond, between the Côte des Blancs to the north and the Sézannais to the south. The vineyards themselves do not stretch 30 km: the 30 km simply describes the distance to Épernay.

Family and vineyards

The estate was founded after the Second World War by the Charbaux brothers and has been run by the third generation since 2008. It farms 10.40 hectares of vines in six villages south of Épernay: Sézanne, Broyes, Allemant, Oyes, Villevenard and Congy.

Chardonnay makes up half of the vineyard area and grows mainly in the villages around Sézanne, on clay-rich limestone soil. In the villages closer to Congy, Pinot Noir (25 per cent) and Pinot Meunier (25 per cent) are planted.

The cuvées

The range mirrors this split. The Blanc de Blancs is pure Chardonnay and is vinified in oak tanks. The vintage champagne (most recently the 2015 millésime) is likewise pure Chardonnay from oak tanks.

• Carte Blanche: a blend of 50 per cent Chardonnay, 25 per cent Pinot Noir and 25 per cent Pinot Meunier, aged three years in the cellar. It comes as a Brut and a Demi-Sec.
• Vieille Réserve: a blend of the three grape varieties with reserve wines from the previous year, aged five years in the cellar. The Guide Hachette 2012 awarded it one star, and in 2011 it won the Grand prix d'excellence of the Œnologues de France.
• Rosé Brut is also part of the range, according to the tasting packs.

Visit and tasting

The house invites visitors to tour the cellars and explains how champagne is made by the méthode champenoise. Tasting and sales take place right at the estate. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 7 pm, on Saturdays from 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 6 pm, and on Sundays and public holidays by appointment. The address is 6 Rue du Bordet, 51270 Congy.