Charles Clement

Champagne Charles Clément is not a classic family estate but the brand of a cooperative. Behind it stands the Coopérative Vinicole de Colombé-le-Sec in the Côte des Bar, the southern part of Champagne in the Aube département, close to Bar-sur-Aube.

A cooperative with a history

The winery was founded on 29 September 1956 by 22 growers. The vineyard area was then 18 hectares, spread across Colombé-le-Sec, Colombé-la-Fosse and Saulcy, and there was only one press. The first bottles reached the market in 1972. Since 1980 the cooperative has sold its own cuvées under the name of one of its founding members: Charles Clément.

Today the cooperative brings together 60 active growers who farm 120 hectares between them. The plots are spread across seven villages. Older sources give higher figures for the area, so the numbers vary depending on the year and the source.

Grape varieties and style

The vineyards are planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Pinot Noir is at the heart of the cuvées and shapes the house style. The range runs from brut and rosé to blanc de noirs. Because the vines are spread over several villages, the assemblages are typical of the Côte des Bar: fresh and fruity.

The range includes these cuvées, among others:

• Cuvée Spéciale: a brut with 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. Gault&Millau awards it 90 points out of 100.
• Cuvée Rosé: a brut made from 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay.
• Tradition: a blanc de blancs, rated 88 points by Gault&Millau.
• Natura 2009: a brut nature.

For the Cuvée 100% Pinot Noir (2023 assemblage), the winery reports a gold medal at the Gilbert & Gaillard competition in 2025.

Visiting and tasting

The cooperative is based at 33 Rue Saint-Antoine in Colombé-le-Sec. Cellar tours take place Monday to Friday at 10.30am and 3.30pm, ideally with a reservation. A tasting costs €9, and the guided visit costs €16 per adult. The village lies close to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. If you are looking for champagne from the Côte des Bar, this is a place to get to know the work of an entire community of growers.