Poirot

Champagne Poirot is a family-run estate in Bergères-lès-Vertus, in the south of the Côte des Blancs. The family has grown vines since 1920, from father to son, and has made champagne since 1923. Today the third generation runs the estate. Corinne and Alain Poirot enjoy sharing their craft and their terroir. The house works as a récoltant-manipulant, so the grapes come from its own vineyards.

Vineyards and grape varieties

All the vineyards are classified Premier Cru. They are planted 85% to Chardonnay and 15% to Pinot Noir. The bulk of the vineyard holdings lies in Vertus. The work is split between two villages: in Vertus the grapes are pressed and bottled, and ageing begins in an old cellar. In Bergères-lès-Vertus come the remuage and the dégorgement. The family describes itself as a keeper of the blanc de blancs cuvée tradition. You will not find a figure for the vineyard area in hectares on the website.

The cuvées

The range includes a Brut, an Extra-Brut, a Rosé and a Grande Réserve, as well as a vintage champagne. The Brut is a pure Chardonnay with a third of reserve wine and a dosage of 9 g/L. It shows subtle citrus notes and white blossom, and relies on freshness and finesse. According to a merchant profile, it is aged entirely in stainless steel tank and goes through malolactic fermentation. The sommelier Andréas Larsson scored it 91 out of 100 points. The family describes it as supple and fruity, typical of the far south of the Côte des Blancs. The Extra-Brut is also a pure Chardonnay.

Visiting and tasting

Visitors can tour the cellar, taste the cuvées and learn about the winemaker's trade. The tour explains how the blancs de blancs are made. The estate offers a cellar tour with a tasting of three champagnes, from 20 euros on the Explore Grand Est platform. It is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6.30pm, and on Sunday mornings by arrangement. The estate is listed in the Vignobles & Découvertes network (Atout France) for the quality of its welcome. Address: Ruelle Pernet, 51130 Bergères-lès-Vertus. It is best to book ahead.