Aurélien Gerbais, one of the leading winemakers on the Côte des Bars, is now the eighth generation to run the family estate in the village of Celles-sur-Ource. Tucked away in the southern Champagne appellation, a stone’s throw from Burgundy, the estate and its entire history stem from a wedding gift of less than one hectare of vines that Pierre Gerbais received which became his life’s work. He developed and nurtured his vines on over twenty different terroirs, including the oldest Pinot Blanc vine in Champagne, planted in 1904. Pascal Gerbais took over managing the estate, massively developing its commercial operations. Today, his son Aurélien runs the estate, which covers almost 17 hectares of vines, which he cultivates in keeping with the family tradition. The mosaic of plots and terroirs, cultivated using organic and biodynamic methods, allows the estate to produce superb Champagnes that reflect all the diversity of this exceptional terroir.

This Blanc de Noirs is a meticulous blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir. Each grape is very carefully selected from the finest parcels in Celles sur Ource, a charming commune in the Aube department. In the winery as in the vineyard, the techniques used reflect the work of eight generations. Pierre Gerbais, however, introduced his own signature approach in 1996, introducing organic and natural methods. The hand-picked grapes are vinified in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats. Following a cold settling process at 12° C, the juice undergoes careful alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The cuvée is then matured on fine lees, without fining or filtration, before being aged on laths in bottles for around 30 months. The Blanc de Noirs then disgorges for around six months before being released for sale.
A highly aromatic Champagne with a floral bouquet complemented by citrus and white fruit aromas. The rich, flavoursome palate displays a subtle balance of freshness and minerality.