Hebrart

The house of Hébrart is based in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Marne valley. It was founded in 1962 by Marc Hébrart, though other sources give 1963 or 1964 as the starting year. His son Jean-Paul Hébrart took over the family estate in 1997. Jean-Paul was only 19 when he made his first champagne of his own in 1983. The bottles usually carry the name Marc Hébrart.

Sites and grape varieties

The Club Trésors de Champagne gives 14.5 hectares, planted with 70 per cent pinot noir and 30 per cent chardonnay. Merchants now speak of up to 17 hectares. The vines are spread across roughly 80 parcels in 11 villages, and each parcel is vinified separately.

The older figure of three grands crus and four premiers crus is out of date. The club lists the grands crus Aÿ, Louvois, Avize, Oiry and Chouilly. To these come the premiers crus Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Bisseuil, Avenay-Val-d'Or, Dizy and Hautvillers. In Mareuil-sur-Aÿ alone, Jean-Paul Hébrart farms eight hectares.

Approach and cuvées

The vineyards are worked sustainably and with as little intervention as possible. According to our sources, the estate is not certified organic. Most of the wines are made in tank. The exceptions are the flagship cuvée Rive Gauche/Rive Droite and the Clos Le Léon. This cuvée has been fermented in barrel since 2004. It brings together chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs with pinot noir from north of the Marne.

• Noces de Craie: a blanc de noirs from 100 per cent pinot noir, taken from five grand cru parcels.
• Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes: 75 per cent pinot noir and 25 per cent chardonnay from old massal selection vines in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.
• Special Club: the cuvée made for the Club Trésors de Champagne.
• There are also the Sélection, a blanc de blancs and a rosé.

The house has been a member of the Club Trésors de Champagne since 1985. According to the club, about 90 per cent of the wines go abroad, so the earlier figure of 70 per cent exports is no longer current. We could not verify details on visits and tastings, so we recommend contacting the estate directly.