Wise words of earnest and unwavering dedication from a young vigneron who has rapidly catapulted his family estate Champagne Chartogne-Taillet into superstardom after taking the reins in 2006.

What is remarkable is how humble this young man remains, both in person as well as in the way he sells his Champagne. Anyone who’s met Alex Chartogne will readily speak to his unassuming, soft-spoken and thoughtful demeanour; while his champagnes, in spite of lofty accolades and increasing renown, remain some of the best values around today. Alex says he wants more people to be able to enjoy his champagnes, even if they are limited in production, and therefore he tries to keep his pricing modest.

Chartogne-Taillet owns parcels in Merfy, and remains the only récoltant-manipulant (RM), or certified grower-producer, in the village. The soil in Merfy is clay, sand and sandstone over chalk, forcing the roots of the vines to “live in two environments” as Alex puts it. He had spent time working with Anselme Selosse in Avize and now applies Selosse’s philosophies in his own cellars and vineyards.

Chartogne has taken numerous measures to promote healthy biological activity in the vineyards, including engaging the services of brilliant soil scientists, Claude and Lydia Bourguignon, to map out the unique micro-features of the domaine’s various vineyards. He uses organic treatments, promotes biodiversity through cover crops, and encourages deep-root systems through regular ploughing, often by horse rather than by tractor to avoid over-compaction of the soil.

Influenced by Selosse’s non-interventionist winemaking philosophy, Alex only uses indigenous yeast, keeps sulphur addition to a minimum and does not filter. He vinifies each parcel individually — some in stainless steel, a growing number in neutral barrique and some in combination with concrete eggs depending on the individual wine, relentlessly refining his approach in order to achieve maximum purity of expression and energy level in his champagnes.

Starting with vintage 2006, Alex Chartogne began selectively vinifying his single-vineyards on their own. While some of the fruits from these vineyards still go into his excellent Sainte Anne and Le Rosé cuvées, the most distinctive fruits go into the single-parcel cuvées. They are usually mono-varietal and undergo longer élevage to gain depth and equilibrium. They are also very limited in production (usually less than 2,000 bottles per cuvée) and are distributed through a strict allocation system to select markets. Whilst they are not produced every vintage, we are privileged to have been able to offer them since the beginning.

I believe that Alexandre Chartogne is the most exciting young producer in Champagne. — Terry Theise The young star in Champagne is Alexandre Chartogne. He took over his father’s champagne house Chartogne-Taillet and turned it into one of the most desired companies among sommeliers of the best restaurants in the world. — Jolanta Smiciene, Richard Juhlin’s Champagne Club

Rock star or not, Alex remains grounded and unquestionably erudite. To him, the decision to make single-vineyard Champagnes was a matter of education, of trying to understand through the medium of the wine the character of the land in all its intricate, natural details, much as Cistercian monks did in France centuries ago.

He continues to hone and fine-tune his approach in the cellar. We’ve followed the single-vineyard cuvées since the beginning and have been witness to their ever-increasing refinement in recent releases, a testament to Alex’s special touch. His champagnes have now become more expressive and effortless, their ripe fruit supported by greater tension and precision.

This offer is valid until 17 February 2021. Orders will be processed subject to availability and final written confirmation. Full payment is required no later than 7 days after confirmation invoice is sent in order to confirm the purchase. No reservation is allowed. All terms and conditions apply.