Maison André Bergère : Oenothèque 2003

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Oenothèque 2003 from Maison André Bergère

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a beautiful brilliant gold color, reflecting the intensity of the vintage and the extended aging on lees.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity, dominated by ripe fruit notes evoking apricot and white peach. Subtle honey aromas accompany toasted almond notes, creating a rich and harmonious bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this champagne unfolds a complex and balanced structure. Yellow fruit notes linger, accompanied by brioche characteristics derived from the extended aging. The sustained minerality reveals the limestone origins of the terroirs. Despite the warm conditions of the 2003 vintage, the acidity asserts itself distinctly, bringing freshness and vivacity. The finish proves exceptional, a hallmark of great champagnes that have benefited from extensive aging.

Food and wine pairings

This champagne pairs perfectly with seafood, particularly oysters whose salinity resonates with the wine's minerality. Smoked fish also makes a remarkable pairing, with the champagne's toasted notes echoing the smoky flavors. Poultry and light white meats find in this champagne an ideal gastronomic partner, the roundness of the vintage pairing elegantly with these delicate preparations. Soft-ripened cheeses with a bloomy rind such as Brie or Camembert also harmonize beautifully with the Oenothèque 2003.

Serving and storage

This Oenothèque 2003 champagne can be enjoyed now, having benefited from extended aging until its disgorgement in 2021.

A champagne from the Vallée du Petit Morin combining power and preserved freshness

The estate

Maison André Bergère, founded in 1949 by Albert Bergère, carries on a family winemaking heritage that began in 1848 in the Vallée du Petit Morin. Now led by the fourth generation embodied by Adrien Bergère, an oenologist, alongside his sister Annaëlle and their mother Brigitte, the Maison cultivates 45 hectares of vines spread across the Vallée du Petit Morin, the Côte des Blancs and the Sézannais. The estate stands out for its innovative single-plot vinification approach, with 139 plots vinified separately, and a growing commitment to organic viticulture. Also established on the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, the Maison offers a complete experience of Champagne culture.

The vineyard

The Oenothèque 2003 comes from the terroirs of the Vallée du Petit Morin, the historic heart of the estate located in the communes of Fèrebrianges, Étoges and Congy. The vines thrive on limestone and flint soils, particularly well-suited to Chardonnay, and clay and millstone soils ideal for Pinot Noir. This geological diversity gives the champagne its characteristic mineral complexity. The vineyard is managed using sustainable practices, with some plots cultivated according to organic farming principles.

The vintage

The 2003 vintage remains exceptional in Champagne, marked by intense heat and prolonged drought. The harvest took place several weeks ahead of the usual schedule. This early ripening produced grapes of remarkable maturity, with particularly high concentrations of sugars and aromas. The major challenge lay in preserving freshness and acidity, essential elements of traditional champagne. The best producers had to draw on their full expertise to turn this atypical vintage into a creative opportunity, preserving the fresh and lively character despite the exceptional ripeness of the grapes.

Winemaking and aging

The Oenothèque 2003 is vinified entirely in stainless steel tanks, allowing precise control over fermentation and maximum preservation of aromatic freshness. Disgorged in 2021, this champagne benefited from an extended aging period of approximately eighteen years on lees, an unusual duration compared to traditional standards. This extensive maturation encourages the development of complex tertiary aromas, notably toasted bread and biscuit notes resulting from prolonged contact with the yeast. This approach reflects the exceptional status of the Oenothèque within the Maison's range.

Grape varieties

Pinot Noir (60%)
Chardonnay (40%)