Doyard ‘Monts Ferrés’ Blanc de Blancs 1er Cru Extra Brut, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France 2017

Champagne Doyard is a family estate based in Vertus, long respected for its quietly rigorous approach to terroir-driven Blanc de Blancs. Farming their Premier Cru vineyards with organic practices and a strong commitment to soil health, the Doyard family focuses on low yields, old vines, and long aging to reveal the nuance of Chardonnay grown in the southern Côte des Blancs. ‘Monts Ferrés’ is one of the estate’s most precise and site-expressive wines, drawn entirely from a single lieu-dit in Vertus.

WINEMAKER: Guillaume Doyard

FARMING: Practicing organic. The estate works without herbicides or systemic chemicals, prioritizing soil vitality and vine balance. All fruit is hand-harvested from mature vines averaging over 50 years of age.

VARIETY: 100% Chardonnay.

TERROIR: Sourced from four parcels within the lieu-dit “Mont Ferrés” in Vertus Premier Cru. The vineyards include south-, east-, and north-facing exposures, offering a combination of ripeness, tension, and aromatic lift. Chalk-dominant soils typical of the Côte des Blancs underpin the wine’s mineral structure and longevity.

VINIFICATION: Grapes are hand-harvested and gently pressed. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts in older 228-liter Burgundy barrels. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve natural acidity and site-driven precision.

AGING: Aged in barrel and then in bottle on the lees for approximately 72 months before disgorgement. Disgorged May 28, 2024. Finished as Extra Brut with a dosage of 0.6 g/L.

TASTING NOTES: Subtle and layered, showing aromas of apricot, orchard fruit, chamomile, and crushed flowers. The palate is silky and open-knit, with fine texture, chalky depth, and a long, resonant finish that gains breadth with air.

FOOD PAIRINGS: Ideal with raw or lightly cooked shellfish, scallop crudo, roast chicken with lemon, or aged Comté.

SCORES: 93 points, Vinous (2025).